We’ve recently learned that DISTRICT 9 director/writer Neill Blomkamp is turning his sights on the robo-centric CHAPPIE. These events were set into motion before Blomkamp’s forthcoming ELYSIUM has hit the screen, which will happen in the US August 9.
I’m really looking forward to ELYSIUM - the trailers have invariably caused a stir when I’ve see them screened with large audiences - and word is much content is being strategically withheld from promos...so we could be in for a very special ride with this one.
Moviefone now brings us a look at a concept art from ELYSIUM, samples of which are presented herein - and you can find the rest HERE.
I’m often asked what quality I most dislike about modern cinema (I'm partial to the films of the '60s and '70s) - my answer is invariably that many modern Hollywood movies tend to not be about anything. I don’t mean 'about' in a plot sense...I mean in a substantive sense (in terms of social exploration, truthful dissections of the human condition, etc.) Blomkamp is very much a trendbreaker in this regard, More power to him for bring so, and more power to the bankrollers for making this happen. Before anyone accuses me of being a fru fru hater of popcorn entertainment...this isn’t the case at all. I’m all over popcorn filmmaking. But a diet of too much popcorn? Doesn’t work out in the long run...and there's no reason popcorn can't be consumed with a chaser of substance (Peckinpah's CONVOY from 1978 is an admittedly imperfect example which leaps to mind). Saldy, maintaining such balance seems to be a diminishing art form. Perhaps Blomkamp's apparent success will inspire 'the next generation' to think a little bolder?
