Elysium was Neill Blomkamp's sophomore outing, and his first big Hollywood film after the success of his brilliant District 9. This time he had the budget, he had the buzz, and he had access to some of the world's finest actors. With all that on his side, it's more than a little disappointing that Elysium was merely average. The concept of the Earth becoming a giant slum for the poor while Elysium sits loftily in space as a refuge for the wealthy is strong. But there are a lot of little niggling issues that bring down the entire production. Not least of which, what was going on with Jodie Foster's accent? That was the most appalling artistic decision I've ever seen, and I'm shocked that the actor and director let this film go to theaters with that performance featured in it. I also think it was a mistake for them to have settled on that particular accent for Sharlto Copley -- it was distracting and took away from the otherwise interesting character. Overall, it's a valiant effort, but I can't help but feel that the flaws in the production were the sign of an inexperienced director in a little bit over his head.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
