Film: Elysium

In the near future wealthy people no longer live on Earth. They life a blissful life on a space station known as Elysium. Thanks to the latest technology there is no illness on Elysium as all known diseases and conditions can be repaired.

Back on Earth factory worker Max (Matt Damon) receives a fatal dose of radiation and decides that he must get to Elysium to save himself. Along the way he meets up with old friend Frey (alice Braga) and her leukaemia suffering daughter who also needs the healing technology.

In their way is a ruthless politician (Jodie Foster) and a crazy enforcer (Sharlto Copley) who do not plan on allowing any poor person access to the potentially life saving equipment.

Damon turns in another competent action turn and Foster is fine as the nasty and ambitious politician but it’s District 9’s Sharlto Copley that steals the show as he revels in the brutality of Kruger, a man with his own ideas on how Elysium should be governed.

Ric’s Rating: Good.

DVD: Hereafter

Three stories of life after death connect in this drama from director Clint Eastwood.

George (Matt Damon) used to make a living as a medium but after his "gift" ruined a few relationships he decided to leave it all behind and work in a regular job.

Marie (Cecile De France from Switchblade Romance) almost drowns in a tsunami and while unconscious she experiences strange visions.

Lastly, we have young Marcus who cannot move on with his life following a death in the family.

This is all pretty interesting and the acting is good, even a brief appearance by Bryce Dallas Howard (The Village) adds power to the story. Sadly it all shuffles along at a snail's pace leading to the inevitable meeting of the three main characters.

This is a very interesting film but it fails to entertain and the sickly sweet ending significantly ups the cringe factor.

Ric's Rating: 43%