Neill Blomkamp's directorial debut District 9 was certainly one of the most surprising science fiction movies in recent years, in many ways coming from the same genre tradition found in American B-movies of the 50s and 60s, where invading aliens acted as a metaphor for political and social issues of the time. Leading viewers through Blomkamp's dysfunctional vision of South Africa is Wikus van de Merwe, the bureaucrat who finds himself drawn towards the plight of aliens interned in a huge, sewage-ridden encampment. In his first film role, Sharlto Copley slowly transforms from a mild-mannered suit to something of a freedom fighter, and thanks to an energetic performance this transformation is entirely convincing. Copley has proved that this wasn't a one off with some great performances since - not least a chance to go "full psycho" as a mercenary in Blomkamp's Elysium. Although the less said about his villain in the awful remake of Old Boy the better - even the greatest actors put their foot wrong from time to time.
