District 9 (2009) (Neill Blomkamp) 8/10

District 9 has a well-drawn story, which despite my fears, does not lose its way at the end. As ever in Sci Fi, there are some plot holes, but I will not bore my reader with these.

It features as its protagonist a yokel South African everyman, played by rookie film actor Sharlto Copley, who has a rollercoaster story arc. At first I thought him comical, but I grew to root for him very much.

Despite its themes of race and tolerance, its South African setting, and its name, which points us to District 6, District 9 tells us nothing new about Apartheid. To my mind, its allegorical subjects – if specific political interests are even intended – are immigration and refugees.

District 9 made me think of many other films – ET, The Fly, Men in Black, Enemy Mine, Starship Troopers. Nonetheless it is fresh, and best of all unashamedly South African, which is rare in these days when American actors are made to play every nationality.

“Fuck the average viewer”

David Simon, in an exclusive interview with the Guardian, expresses fears for newspapers’ future and accuses media owners of contempt. He also talks about his next series, which will be true to his philosophy…

The Ticking Is the Bomb

I love this so goddamn much. It is, like it says on the tin, a painfully beautiful memoir, but also immensely creative, unique and interesting. Enjoy!