Rated
R (Creature Violence, Drug Content and Pervasive Language)
Running
Time: 1 Hour & 28 Minutes
Cast:
John
Boyega-Moses
Jodie
Whittaker-Sam
Alex
Esmail-Pest
Franz
Drameh-Dennis
Leeon
Jones-Jerome
Simon
Howard-Biggz
Jumayn
Hunter-Hi Hatz
Sammy
Williams-Probs
Michael
Ajao-Mayhem
Nick
Frost-Ron
Luke
Treadaway-Brewis
Directed
by Joe Cornish
 |
| Need to stop an alien invasion? These kids can help. |
Although
I try to avoid it, it’s easy to become jaded at Hollywood’s current meager
offerings, as there are just too many sequels,
prequels, and remakes. For example, take one of my favorite science fiction
subgenres, the alien invasion film, now reduced to hackneyed storylines, cookie-cutter
characters, failed attempts at drama, and excessive use of CG effects where
everything just blurs together into a jumbled mess. I kid you not, the audience
actually applauded for the abysmal
“Battle: Los Angeles” but then again, I really shouldn’t be surprised
considering films like Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” earns $1
billion at the worldwide box office. “Battleship” is set to be released next
summer and I know it’s wrong to criticize a film without seeing it first but
honestly, adapting a board game?
Truly, this reeks of desperation on Hollywood’s part as they suffer from a
dearth of unoriginality. Don’t get me wrong, there are still good, even
excellent, films being made so it’s not all
doom and gloom! Then there’s “Attack the Block,” a low-budget British
sci-fi/horror film that proves you don’t need to throw massive amounts of money
at meaningless special effects but just have a smart, engaging story with
enjoyable characters. With an energetic pace, an eclectic cast, and a tale sparking
with wit and imagination that includes just a hint of social commentary,
“Attack the Block” is the best
science fiction film of summer 2011.
Set in Lambeth, South London, England, a young nurse named Sam (Jodie Whittaker) is walking home one night when she is mugged by a group of hooligans: Pest (Alex Esmail), Dennis (Franz Drameh), Jerome (Leeon Jones), Biggz (Simon Howard), and their leader Moses (John Boyega). Held at knifepoint, she quickly gives up her purse and ring, albeit reluctantly since it appears to be very precious to her. However, an object crashes into a nearby car and in the confusion, Sam runs away. Moses investigates and is wounded by a strange creature that escapes into a nearby park, which the group follows and kills. Unable to identify the creature and hoping to make a profit because of its rarity, they carry the corpse to a drug dealer living in their apartment building named Ron (Nick Frost), who is just as puzzled. Brewis (Luke Treadaway), an aspiring zoologist looking to buy some marijuana, speculates that it may not be of this world. Moses asks Ron’s superior, a gangster nicknamed Hi-Hatz (Jumayn Hunter), if they can hide the creature in their ‘weed room’ because it is the safest place on the block. He agrees but on the condition that Moses starts selling cocaine for him. More objects fall from the sky and hoping to kill more of the creatures, the group arm themselves with machetes, softball bats, swords, and fireworks. Two young kids going by the names of Probs (Sammy Williams) and Mayhem (Michael Ajao) want to come as well but they are turned away. However, these new creatures prove to be more challenging to put down as they are bigger, can blend into shadows due to their jet-black fur, are incredibly fast and agile, and have neon-glowing teeth. The boys are forced to flee but Moses is arrested when Sam brings the police, identifying him as the mugger. Dennis manages to free Moses just as the creatures bloodily kill the officers and the two commandeer the vehicle to escape. They crash into Hi-Hatz’s car and he pulls a gun on them, enraged that Moses has brought the police to his turf. Sam runs off just as the rest of Moses’ friends catch up but the creatures show up once more and everyone attempts to make a break for the block. They manage to make it but Pest is bitten on the leg by one of the creatures and Biggz is forced to hide in a dumpster. Seeing Sam getting into her flat, the group forces their way in and demand her to help Pest, as she is a nurse. Forming a tenuous truce, Sam, Moses and the rest of his friends try to survive the night as it soon becomes apparent that their block is under attack from a full-blown alien invasion.
“Attack the Block” marks the directorial debut of Joe Cornish and is unlike any science fiction film I’ve seen as it pays homage not just to the low-budget horror flicks of the 1980’s but also to Ridley Scott’s “Alien” and even Quentin Tarantino. The pacing is very efficient as all the exposition occurs during the opening credits with no filler material and has such a youthful energy that complements the characters very well. I got a huge laugh seeing these kids parade around their kill like it’s some sort of trophy. Having an alien invasion take place in an apartment complex or ‘the block’ as it’s called is virtually unheard of but Cornish takes full advantage of the setting, the dark corners and smoke-filled hallways recalling such films like “Alien.” Even the way the characters arm themselves reminded me of the crew of the Nostromo as the weapons they wield is just whatever they can get their hands on. One of the more suspenseful scenes had two aliens blocking the stairway and Pest ingeniously uses his fireworks to provide a smokescreen for his friends.
What really makes “Attack the Block” so memorable is the characters and the sharp writing. There’s an authenticity to the dialogue, which is largely British slang so some audiences might have trouble understanding it due to the thick accents and rapid-fire delivery but it fits in with the energetic pacing. US distributor Screen Gems of Sony Pictures Entertainment actually considered using subtitles but this would imply foreignness and serve to alienate mainstream audiences. Once you settle into the rhythm of the film, it shouldn’t be a problem and not once did I feel lost at what was going on even if I didn’t entirely understand what was being said. All the characters have rich personalities and I appreciated that Cornish goes out of his way to make even minor ones just as important so that when some do end up biting the dust, it comes as a genuine shock. This is helped by the unknown casting because you’re never sure who may be on Death’s doorstep and adds to the tension. Initially, Moses and his friends aren’t very likable, a group of two-bit thugs robbing a helpless woman but slowly we learn that there’s more to them. For one, everyone looks out for each other, exhibiting a fierce loyalty that is admirable and their behavior reminds me of a British-ghetto version of “Super 8” or even “The Goonies.” The social commentary comes in when Sam gets a glimpse of the conditions that Moses lives in and comes to realize at heart he is not a bad person but fate just dealt him a bad hand. A mutual respect for each other is slowly built and while the film never apologizes for the group’s previous actions, it also asks us not to judge based on preconceived notions. Race and social class is also touched upon, such as when the kids humorously bemoan that they don’t have enough minutes to stay in contact with each other and how the indomitable will to survive unites the most unlikely people together. Moses even speculates that ‘the feds’ or the police genetically engineered the creatures to drive out minorities like him.
“Attack the Block” fully earns its R-rating as there are several gory deaths but the camera never lingers on it in a gratuitous manner. Befitting its low-budget roots, the alien creatures, described as ‘big, alien, gorilla-wolf mother*ckers,’ aren’t anything too elaborate but they manage to look fantastic and scary-looking with their razor sharp, neon-glowing teeth. The action thumps with intensity and are brilliantly choreographed, especially a chase through the streets as the kids attempt to escape on bicycles and motor scooters while being followed by the aliens. A climatic sequence seems to have leaped out of a Quentin Tarantino film when Moses begins wielding a samurai sword (is it a Hattori Hanzō?) as he leaps past the aliens in slow-motion. The score by Steven Price and Basement Jaxx (a duo consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe) is one of the best I’ve heard that’s heavily electronic similar to Daft Punk but with a noticeable urban flavor.
The cast is made up of largely unknowns, adding to the realism and all of them are fun to watch thanks to the dynamic camaraderie everyone shares. The standout is definitely John Boyega, who resembles a young Denzel Washington, serving as the film’s heart and soul as he is forced to become an unlikely hero in order to keep his friends and newfound allies alive. Alex Esmail also provides quite a few laughs as Pest with his frequent attempts to hit on Sam as do two little kids who demand to be called Probs and Mayhem, played by Sammy Williams and Michael Ajao. To show how tough they are, they arm themselves with firecrackers and a Super Soaker…but it’s not filled with water! Probs even scolds his friend when they’re faced with one of the aliens, ‘No one is going to call you Mayhem if you keep acting like such a pu**y!’ Jodie Whittaker is likable and easy on the eyes (What is with me and British women?!) while frequent Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg collaborator Nick Frost provides his usual dry wit and confusion with his constantly-stoned sidekick Brewis, played by Luke Treadaway.
“Attack the Block” premiered at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas back in March where it won the Midnight Feature Audience Award and was released in the UK on May 13, 2011 with a limited release following in the US on July 29, 2011. Reception has been highly enthusiastic with 89% on Rotten Tomatoes as critics praised it as ‘a thrilling sci-fi yarn whose distinct British flavor supplies energy, wit, and style to burn.’ Unfortunately, the film has failed to recoup its low $13 million production budget with only $4.7 million worldwide but honestly, it matters little because I have no doubt that this will become an instant cult classic along sci-fi fans. With so many Hollywood blockbusters ending up as disappointments, “Attack the Block” stands out from the pack and easily bests them all so if you haven’t gotten a chance to see it yet, then I urge you, no, I beg you, to stop dilly-dallying and rush to your local theater!
Set in Lambeth, South London, England, a young nurse named Sam (Jodie Whittaker) is walking home one night when she is mugged by a group of hooligans: Pest (Alex Esmail), Dennis (Franz Drameh), Jerome (Leeon Jones), Biggz (Simon Howard), and their leader Moses (John Boyega). Held at knifepoint, she quickly gives up her purse and ring, albeit reluctantly since it appears to be very precious to her. However, an object crashes into a nearby car and in the confusion, Sam runs away. Moses investigates and is wounded by a strange creature that escapes into a nearby park, which the group follows and kills. Unable to identify the creature and hoping to make a profit because of its rarity, they carry the corpse to a drug dealer living in their apartment building named Ron (Nick Frost), who is just as puzzled. Brewis (Luke Treadaway), an aspiring zoologist looking to buy some marijuana, speculates that it may not be of this world. Moses asks Ron’s superior, a gangster nicknamed Hi-Hatz (Jumayn Hunter), if they can hide the creature in their ‘weed room’ because it is the safest place on the block. He agrees but on the condition that Moses starts selling cocaine for him. More objects fall from the sky and hoping to kill more of the creatures, the group arm themselves with machetes, softball bats, swords, and fireworks. Two young kids going by the names of Probs (Sammy Williams) and Mayhem (Michael Ajao) want to come as well but they are turned away. However, these new creatures prove to be more challenging to put down as they are bigger, can blend into shadows due to their jet-black fur, are incredibly fast and agile, and have neon-glowing teeth. The boys are forced to flee but Moses is arrested when Sam brings the police, identifying him as the mugger. Dennis manages to free Moses just as the creatures bloodily kill the officers and the two commandeer the vehicle to escape. They crash into Hi-Hatz’s car and he pulls a gun on them, enraged that Moses has brought the police to his turf. Sam runs off just as the rest of Moses’ friends catch up but the creatures show up once more and everyone attempts to make a break for the block. They manage to make it but Pest is bitten on the leg by one of the creatures and Biggz is forced to hide in a dumpster. Seeing Sam getting into her flat, the group forces their way in and demand her to help Pest, as she is a nurse. Forming a tenuous truce, Sam, Moses and the rest of his friends try to survive the night as it soon becomes apparent that their block is under attack from a full-blown alien invasion.
“Attack the Block” marks the directorial debut of Joe Cornish and is unlike any science fiction film I’ve seen as it pays homage not just to the low-budget horror flicks of the 1980’s but also to Ridley Scott’s “Alien” and even Quentin Tarantino. The pacing is very efficient as all the exposition occurs during the opening credits with no filler material and has such a youthful energy that complements the characters very well. I got a huge laugh seeing these kids parade around their kill like it’s some sort of trophy. Having an alien invasion take place in an apartment complex or ‘the block’ as it’s called is virtually unheard of but Cornish takes full advantage of the setting, the dark corners and smoke-filled hallways recalling such films like “Alien.” Even the way the characters arm themselves reminded me of the crew of the Nostromo as the weapons they wield is just whatever they can get their hands on. One of the more suspenseful scenes had two aliens blocking the stairway and Pest ingeniously uses his fireworks to provide a smokescreen for his friends.
What really makes “Attack the Block” so memorable is the characters and the sharp writing. There’s an authenticity to the dialogue, which is largely British slang so some audiences might have trouble understanding it due to the thick accents and rapid-fire delivery but it fits in with the energetic pacing. US distributor Screen Gems of Sony Pictures Entertainment actually considered using subtitles but this would imply foreignness and serve to alienate mainstream audiences. Once you settle into the rhythm of the film, it shouldn’t be a problem and not once did I feel lost at what was going on even if I didn’t entirely understand what was being said. All the characters have rich personalities and I appreciated that Cornish goes out of his way to make even minor ones just as important so that when some do end up biting the dust, it comes as a genuine shock. This is helped by the unknown casting because you’re never sure who may be on Death’s doorstep and adds to the tension. Initially, Moses and his friends aren’t very likable, a group of two-bit thugs robbing a helpless woman but slowly we learn that there’s more to them. For one, everyone looks out for each other, exhibiting a fierce loyalty that is admirable and their behavior reminds me of a British-ghetto version of “Super 8” or even “The Goonies.” The social commentary comes in when Sam gets a glimpse of the conditions that Moses lives in and comes to realize at heart he is not a bad person but fate just dealt him a bad hand. A mutual respect for each other is slowly built and while the film never apologizes for the group’s previous actions, it also asks us not to judge based on preconceived notions. Race and social class is also touched upon, such as when the kids humorously bemoan that they don’t have enough minutes to stay in contact with each other and how the indomitable will to survive unites the most unlikely people together. Moses even speculates that ‘the feds’ or the police genetically engineered the creatures to drive out minorities like him.
“Attack the Block” fully earns its R-rating as there are several gory deaths but the camera never lingers on it in a gratuitous manner. Befitting its low-budget roots, the alien creatures, described as ‘big, alien, gorilla-wolf mother*ckers,’ aren’t anything too elaborate but they manage to look fantastic and scary-looking with their razor sharp, neon-glowing teeth. The action thumps with intensity and are brilliantly choreographed, especially a chase through the streets as the kids attempt to escape on bicycles and motor scooters while being followed by the aliens. A climatic sequence seems to have leaped out of a Quentin Tarantino film when Moses begins wielding a samurai sword (is it a Hattori Hanzō?) as he leaps past the aliens in slow-motion. The score by Steven Price and Basement Jaxx (a duo consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe) is one of the best I’ve heard that’s heavily electronic similar to Daft Punk but with a noticeable urban flavor.
The cast is made up of largely unknowns, adding to the realism and all of them are fun to watch thanks to the dynamic camaraderie everyone shares. The standout is definitely John Boyega, who resembles a young Denzel Washington, serving as the film’s heart and soul as he is forced to become an unlikely hero in order to keep his friends and newfound allies alive. Alex Esmail also provides quite a few laughs as Pest with his frequent attempts to hit on Sam as do two little kids who demand to be called Probs and Mayhem, played by Sammy Williams and Michael Ajao. To show how tough they are, they arm themselves with firecrackers and a Super Soaker…but it’s not filled with water! Probs even scolds his friend when they’re faced with one of the aliens, ‘No one is going to call you Mayhem if you keep acting like such a pu**y!’ Jodie Whittaker is likable and easy on the eyes (What is with me and British women?!) while frequent Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg collaborator Nick Frost provides his usual dry wit and confusion with his constantly-stoned sidekick Brewis, played by Luke Treadaway.
“Attack the Block” premiered at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas back in March where it won the Midnight Feature Audience Award and was released in the UK on May 13, 2011 with a limited release following in the US on July 29, 2011. Reception has been highly enthusiastic with 89% on Rotten Tomatoes as critics praised it as ‘a thrilling sci-fi yarn whose distinct British flavor supplies energy, wit, and style to burn.’ Unfortunately, the film has failed to recoup its low $13 million production budget with only $4.7 million worldwide but honestly, it matters little because I have no doubt that this will become an instant cult classic along sci-fi fans. With so many Hollywood blockbusters ending up as disappointments, “Attack the Block” stands out from the pack and easily bests them all so if you haven’t gotten a chance to see it yet, then I urge you, no, I beg you, to stop dilly-dallying and rush to your local theater!
Final
Rating: 5 out of 5
“That’s
an ALIEN, bruv, BELIEVE IT! But they went and landed in the wrong place though,
you get me? THE WRONG PLACE!”
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