Exclusive: Richard Linklater on BEFORE SUNRISE, BEFORE SUNSET, and Would They Ever Make a Third Film
Exclusive: Director James McTeigue on the Wachowskis, SUPERMAN, Edgar Allen Poe, NINJA ASSASSIN, MAGNETO, and a Lot More!
2nd Joel Silver Interview NINJA ASSASSIN. Plus Info on Dark Castle Projects, Remakes, SHERLOCK HOLMES, More
Zac Efron and Claire Danes Interview ME AND ORSON WELLES
Exclusive Interview: Danny McBride on YOUR HIGHNESS, UP IN THE AIR and EASTBOUND & DOWNExclusive: DISTRICT 9’s Lead Actor Sharlto Copley (Wikus Van De Merwe) Video Interview
by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub Posted:August 16th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Would you believe Sharlto Copley had never acted in a movie before “District 9″? While he’s produced, directed and written short films in South Africa, he’d never thought about being an actor until director Neill Blomkamp chose him for the role of Wikus in “District 9″. And after watching the film, I cannot imagine anyone else doing a better job.
Anyway, I was recently able to speak with Sharlto and I decided to save the interview till a lot of you had seen the movie. After all, since Sharlto isn’t exactly a household name, I figured you’d be a lot more interested in watching him talk now that you’ve seen his work. During the interview he talks about making “District 9″, Comic-Con, working with the CGI, and a lot more. It’s a great interview with an actor that’s just beginning his career. Watch it after the jump:
Finally, if you missed my interview with director Neill Blomkamp you can watch it here. And here’s Matt’s review of “District 9″.
Sharlto Copley
- Did he ever think the film would be so big
- Has he heard the buzz from the people who have seen the film
- Did he geek out at Comic-Con
- How did he prepare for the role
- Does he have a lot more respect for actors after doing the role
- Sharlto talks about filming the action
- He talks about filming against all CGI aliens
- What is the best part of filming on location and the worst part
- Is he more excited to do acting after this or go back to directing
- He talks about his relationship with Neill
–
Great interview, I love that he’s going to continue acting
Love the interview - he was perfect in the role - a delightful, bright person…refreshing!
I have seen District 9 twice now - and of course will buy it when it is released on DVD.
What an excellent film!
I have encouraged all and sundry to see it including non sci fi enthusiaists- with great feedback.
Sharlto Copley’s performance was exceptional and deserving of an Oscar nod. I would be satisfied to leave the ending as it is without a sequel - but on the other hand would love to see these characters again!
Its a dilemma but may just have to wait for Neill Blomkamp’s next offering -bring it on !
he’s a great actor, he was really good good good and I’m not used to post some comment because I don’t like giving my mail, and my english suck but, for him I post !
i have been reading lots of other reviews on other sites and need to start commenting in order to clear up some of the misunderstandings.
ive read so many (usa) reviews about the “unbelievable main character” and the “fake accent” and to any south african Wikus is 100% typical of our own red neck those-who-never-apply for passports true blue south african. we all know lots of south africans who speak and act and (unfortunately) think exactly like wikus. And yes the word “fok” is very commonly used word in SA
there is a huge problem with nigerian violence, scams and drug trafficking in SA and the locals have been protesting about it. Our malawian gardener who comes to us once a week always gets himself robbed by nigerians when returning to the townships, we have opened a bank account for him so that doesnt carry cash anymore. Our friends in JHB had their son killed because a nigerian gang kidnapped him and asked for a ransom, which our friends paid for, and they killed him anyway. So yes, its very very appropriate to include them in the movie.
The ruwandans, mocambiqueans, botswananas, malawians and all manner of neighbouring africans who have flocked into SA are corralled into the worst parts of every township and are called “aliens” locally. District 9 is much more about current xenophobia in SA than the old apartheid theme, and anyone who reads informative newspapers about world news would be aware of that.
Racism? Well the white guys are depicted as the baddies and the black guys in MNU are the nicest humans so the racist card is not that clear.
I find it amusing that people who would walk out of a movie only 20 minutes into it can write reviews and have any sort of intelligent opinion. The director clearly states that he didnt need to patronise the audience by explaining every little angle and leaves much to audience.
A good movie is one that gets people thinking and talking and this movie sure does that !! Good movies dont patronise and make it easy or comfortable for the viewer, but a good movie that shakes things up and gets us to pay attention.
I understood the brilliance of the movie when seeing it the second time and so much fell into place that I couldnt take in the first time because it was so intense.
Hopefully the academy will do their due diligence and try and understand the social and criminal context, the accent and ignore some of the super ignorant reviews that have been written by folk who cant understand a movie unless it spoonfeeds and stars Will Smith !!
@Lee Conner,
mate, i saw it as you did, great movie, and huge message behind it.
Need to view it a second time too. In first instance it was too much “reality” in it for me(as a SciFi fan),but later on,as a understood the potential of the toughest human challenges and super cool SciFi,Neill got me hooked.
I can only agree with you on the social matter you vent. Nothing to add here,cheers