Throughout the entire film, after seeing the state of earth and the state of Elysium, I was with Max in wondering what it would be like if I were to actually live on such a beautiful habitat. Max dreamed of going there with Frey and though the characterization left something to be desired, the one thing I can fully stand behind is Max’s end goal.
Then the actual ending hit and the whole goal turn into “save the unfortunate.” This isn’t wrong in any sense and someone like Max would fight for a cause like this. Being a highly political film, I realize the intention of the criticisms of today’s immigration and healthcare concerns. But there’s one problem: this is science fiction, we’re not supposed to relate it to the real world. Perhaps Blomkamp is known for seamlessly doing so with District 9, but if he tried it again for Elysium, there simply wasn’t enough backing.
So where’s the plot hole? This is supposed to a feel good film with a bittersweet ending. Everyone is happy as can be with the sacrifice of the protagonist. Earth now has universal healthcare, everyone is a citizen of Elysium, and no one has to go home hungry, except they will. Give it a month or two and complete chaos will occur. Elysium will be trashed and horded with overpopulation, the medical pods will be fought and pillaged over, and the have-nots of the world will quickly become the haves, and greedy they will be.
The plot whole is the political criticism because it doesn’t make much sense to speak of freedom for all when it’s all going to be worse in the end. It’s great that Blomkamp thinks equal opportunity regardless of class is fair, but there’s far more to think about than just that. As wrong as it sounds, first world countries would be completely ruined if we brought all the citizens of the third world countries under our care. It’s because of this that the whole film fails to be a political statement.
Whether you agree with these plot holes or not, I’m gonna make it clear again that I enjoyed Elysium. Great pacing, and promising concept, but all the political mishmash felt overly forced and not seamlessly integrated into the film. I believe that with a little more time, this truly could have been something to behold.