In case you haven’t been on the internet in the past 24 hours, Sony has broken open the doors on Neill Blomkamp‘s until now secretive sci-fi “Elysium.” Press got a dose of ten minutes of footage yesterday (read our breakdown right here), along with the trailer you’re about to see below. And even more, Blomkamp talked up the movie, his desire for “Aliens“-style slime and eggs in his next movie and his thoughts on “Halo” and taking on pre-existing franchises already.
Okay, now it’s time for the big show, and “Elysium” is here. What you need to know: It stars Matt Damon as Max de Costa, one of the 99%, a down on his luck ex-con looking to go straight on a ravaged and scarred Earth in the year 2154. Up above in outer space, the 1% live on the pristine ship Elysium with all the latest comforts and cures. However, when a workplace accidence leaves him with cancer and five days to live, Max goes sorta cyborg with some help from Wagner Moura and embarks on a mission to Elysium, where cancer-curing procedures could very well save his life. But first he’ll have to get past Sharlto Copley, the nasty agent hired by the government to keep guys like Max out (and he apparently gives a helluva performance).
So yes, it’s hella ambitious, with lots of real world issues being played upon. But does it work as a popcorn spectacle? It sure looks like it and if you’re wondering who helped with all the futuristic design, it was none other than “Blade Runner” designer Syd Mead.
Co-starring Carly Pope, Diego Luna and Alice Braga, “Elysium” launches on August 9th.
