_**DISTRICT 9**_
Nailed it, bailed it or failed it?
Let’s play!

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**Writing: NAILED IT!**
The highly original story features strong political undertones, emphatic characters and a gritty realism, which all contribute to the down-to-earth atmosphere present during most of the runtime.
The basic storyline itself is, for the most part, quite classic in its basic themes, but it manages to be powerful and scary as well.
Despite starting out as a mockumentary, introducing the realistic storytelling that becomes the groundwork for the rest of the film, the final act is more akin to a science fiction war flick.
Those aliens are probably the most fleshed out and human aliens we’ve seen in a very long time. Some of them are bad, and others are nor, just like humans.

**Characters and Acting: NAILED IT!**
The cast is comprised of largely unknown actors, with debuting **Sharlto Coupley** in an impressive leading role. Coupley’s input is what makes this movie extremely memorable, particularly when he starts to descend into the realms of madness.
Coupley largely carries the weight of the film on his own shoulders, but his performance is so enjoyable and so impressive that it really doesn’t matter.
The prawn aliens are the most interesting - and in many ways most human - characters in the film. They fit seamlessly into the world of the film and by making us know very little about them, they become mystical and creepy.
The rest of the cast doesn’t leave any lasting impressions, but they manage their parts well.

**Direction: NAILED IT!**
Overall, **Neil Blomkamp’s** directorial debut is a strong feat, utilizing both the gritty landscapes of a South-African ghetto and the talented cast to weave a memorable and enjoyable film. The documentary style present at the beginning of the film creates a high tempo for the first half of the film, and make some things confusing to follow. This style is slowly pushed aside in favor of a more traditional type of storytelling which, while fully understandable from a storytelling perspective, is kind of a shame considering that the mockumentary parts make this film original in comparison with the plethora of other similar movies.

**Visuals: NAILED IT!**
Highly impressive, incredibly realistic and so slick it’s almost hard to believe it’s all actually CGI. The setting and the set decoration closely resembles Tatooine from the _Star Wars_ films.

**Sound: NAILED IT!**
The alien clicking language is surprisingly beautiful and the music fits perfectly into the mood of the film.

**Pacing: BAILED IT!**
It takes a while to find its footing, throughout the fast-paced and somewhat confusing first act. When the documentary style is dropped, the film settles down on one direction and continues its brisk pace but stays significantly more comprehensive in its storytelling.

**Themes: NAILED IT**
Apartheid and xenophobia, madness, man vs. alien, neither man nor alien is wholly bad or good - big and familiar themes packaged in a original and interesting package.

**Atmosphere: NAILED IT!**
It’s realistic, it’s violent and it’s gritty. It’s like **Ridley Scott** and **James Cameron** sat down to make movie together.

**Rewatchability: NAILED IT!**
Come for the original story, the interesting setting and the high tempo, stay for the undisputed realism, wonderful prawn aliens and killer performances.

**Expectations: NAILED IT!**
I went into his film expecting a different take on the sci-fi genre and what I got was a highly unique masterpiece of storytelling.

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**Bottom line: NAILED IT!**
This highly original, incredibly realistic and vastly memorable sci-fi mockumentary goes from a documentary style to all out war and is strengthened by amazing performances.