Chappie

Chappie

 (2015)

A Review by Grant Kanigan

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp

Written by: Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell

Starring: Sharlto Copley, Dev Patel,

Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver,

Jose Pablo Cantillo, Ninja,

Yo-Landi Visser

Rating: 14A

Release Date: March 6th, 2015

Sharlto Copley & Dev Patel in Chappie
© 2015 CTMG, Inc. All rights reserved. Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

    As cinema mastermind Martin Scorsese once remarked, "I don’t think I’m being pessimistic when I say that the art of cinema and the movie business are now at a crossroads. Audio-visual entertainment and what we know as cinema – moving pictures conceived by individuals – appear to be headed in different directions."For the most part, Scorsese is right on. The top grossing films of 2014 were all big budget sequels, adaptations, and remakes. Even the exception, American Sniper, had a substantial budget of 58 million dollars. Conversely, the best picture nominees for 2014, (sans American Sniper, which has made over 500 million dollars and still hasn't finished its theatrical run), were all extremely low budget, and only 1 out of 8 broke the 100 Million dollar mark.  Cinema truly is at a crossroads. Yet, as Scorsese also remarked, there are "exceptions to the overall trend in moviemaking," as well as that "for the very first time in the history of the art form, movies really can be made for very little money." With a cinematic mind, artistic expression and clever budgeting, filmmaker Neill Blomkamp is slowly becoming the exception to the rule. With Chappie, Blomkamp proves that original, intelligent, creative and interesting cinema is still possible within the framework of a large scale action thriller.

     In a futuristic world very similar to our own, robotic mastermind Deon Wilson, (Dev Patel), works for a South African robotics company that specializes in law enforcement intelligence. His robot design, a small, human-like robot that's financially savvy and nearly indestructible is extremely effective. Under Wilson's robots, Johannesburg's crime rate has dropped off the map. Paying his rent with his ingenious design, Wilson's hobby is designing an artificial intelligence program that he hopes will eventually become more intelligent than humankind.  When his profit driven boss Michelle, (Sigourney Weaver), refuses to let Wilson test his program, he covertly steals a robot and plans to quietly test his program at home. Yet, when career criminals Ninja and Yolandi attempt to kidnap Wilson in an attempt to turn off the police robots, Wilson's plans go awry. With his AI program now in possession of Ninja and Yolandi, (who make up the real life South African rap-duo Die Antwoord, and play a fictional version of themselves in Chappie), Wilson convinces the duo to let him live and to test his AI on the robot. Under the guise that the AI will somehow help the pair, Wilson begins to teach the robot to learn, talk and complete tasks. It soon becomes apparent that the robot, named Chappie by a loving Yolandi, is more than just nuts and bolts. With Chappie fast becoming a scientific breakthrough, Wilson is in a race against time to free Chappie from Die Antwoord, and stay off the radar of the psychotically inclined Vincent Moore, (Hugh Jackman). A religious and gun nut, Moore is an in-company competitor with Wilson, having designed a larger robot that inflicts far more damage. Going so far as to put lives in danger, Moore will do anything to get ahead of Wilson. Although there are a lot of elements to Blomkamp's script, they all smoothly flow into one, leading to a rollicking and exhilarating finish.

     Blomkamp, as I mentioned earlier, is an exciting and challenging filmmaker. Slyly including allegories within District 9 regarding socioeconomic and racial division in South Africa as well as elitism and American healthcare in Elysium, Blomkamp has a knack for including heavy subject matter within the large scale of an action film. Chappie is no different. Yet, instead of analyzing society, Blomkamp goes for the more philosophical route, with moments of sci-fi brilliance. Possibly taking his cues from brilliant minds like Dr. Michio Kaku or Dr. Stephen Pinker, and popular theories in neuroscience, Blomkamp dissects the human mind, consciousness and what it truly means to be alive. While it's definitely a fictional future far from now, the roots of Chappie are in reality and theoretical science. The questions and possibilities that Chappie raises are absolutely compelling. 

      While Chappie's script is brilliant, there are some shortcomings in the larger picture. Die Antwoord, while unique, interesting as well simultaneously heroic and terrifying aren't the greatest actors. While they do a good enough job, (Yo-Landi Visser's personality fits well with her role and Ninja is brilliant when he's menacing - notwithstanding the rumours that he's "pure evil" in real life), there are a few weak spots in their performances. Still, the unique attitude Die Antwoord bring to Chappie is far more interesting than most films, and they hit the mark far more than they miss it.
     Additionally, the film gets off to a rocky start. Opening with fragmented images of robots, interview clips of doctors talking about Chappie and Anderson Cooper explaining the storyline is a poor move, and takes viewers right out of the film. Anderson Cooper may be a great journalist, but he's an awful actor.
     Overall, the film has a multitude of things going right for it versus wrong. Hans Zimmer's techno-score is rousing, fits the film perfectly and rises and falls where it needs to. The cinematography, by long time Blomkamp collaborator Trent Opaloch, is the best work from both director and cinematographer to date; the visuals in the film are a post-punk-neo-pop acid trip that's unlike anything I've seen in cinema yet, and the action is equally compelling. The work by the rest of the cast, is also excellent. Jackman, going full Aussie, is thoroughly enjoyable as an unhinged religious nut. Dev Patel, who's been fantastic since his star-making turn in Slumdog Millionaire is once again exuberant. Sharlto Copley, as the voice of Chappie, does some creative and enjoyable voice work, and is slowly becoming a brilliant actor. From the flawed hero of District 9 to the mentally unstable protagonist of The A-Team, to the vicious villain in Elysium, Copley shows an impressive and varied range. Finally, with a unique setting in Johannesburg, Chappie's South African inner-city landscape is a refreshing change in mainstream cinema; a breath of fresh air.
      In closing, while there are minor problems with Chappie, like the occasional misstep acting-wise and a rough start, it's so unique, so dazzling, and wholly exciting with it's finale's violent crescendo, that it can't be missed, especially on the big screen. As far as entertainment value goes, Chappie is Blomkamp's best work yet.

Grant's Rating: 4/5 Stars

Jose Pablo Cantillo, Ninja and Sharlto Copley in Chappie: "Real Gangster"