Elysium is a science fiction film set 140 years in the future. The planets resources are depleted and the world is over populated. The rich have evacuated Earth and live on a Utopian space station called Elysium. Blue collar tough Matt Damon has always wanted to go to Elysium and after sever radiation poisoning he has to make the trip in order to be cured.
The movie has an excellent premise, amazing visuals, and intriguing future technology. Those are it's only successes. There is virtually no character development through out. We like Matt Damon not because we know anything about his character but because he, as Matt Damon, is an inherently likable everyman. We don't care about the character we care about Matt Damon. Jodi Foster puts in a train wreck of a performance with a jarring haircut and a terribly put upon accent. Shaltro Copley as the villain has promise but never breaks past caricature.
The plot has holes, loops in on itself, and telegraphs it's oh-so-predictable ending 40 minutes out. A great idea that suffered from lack of revision and/or too many cooks.
My #1 most anticipated movie of the year and my #1 disappointment.
Don't See It.
The expedition starts out well but after an accident the crew begins to fall apart. The film jumps back and forth through the mission to further the feeling of isolation and confusion. A space film molded in the unerasable foot print of 2001 but more reminiscent of the more recent Moon or Sunshine.
A enjoyable albeit not quite original film where the thrills and scares at the end don't match the pleasurable journey. I would have rather just watched the crew travel through space and never reach their destination.
Rent It.
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