With a budget of only $13 million, writer/director Joe Cornish (in his feature debut) has managed to deliver a delightfully entertaining summer film the puts other colossally over budgeted blockbusters to shame (“Green Lantern,” we’re looking at YOU).
With shades of such 80’s fare as “Gremlins” and “Critters,” “Attack of the Block” concerns a small teenage gang from south London who must defend their high rise project building from an alien invasion. After mugging another tenant (Jodi Whittaker), gang leader Moses (John Boyega) and his fellow thugs encounter a small, yet deadly alien that fell from the sky, to which Moses quickly dispatches then parades around the block like a trophy.
Their victory is short lived, however, as Moses inadvertently incites a full scale invasion of the block with his reckless act, drawing the attention of more fearsome aliens the size of gorillas with rows of glowing blue teeth. The kids enlist the help of their mugging victim, as well as fellow alien (and zombie) friendly actor Nick Frost (“Paul”) in an effort to stop the attack before it wipes out the entire block.
The real charm of this piece stems from its decidedly low budget approach of the material by making the most of the resources you have available. Sure, the aliens look like stuntmen in furry suits leaping around on all fours, but it works because it’s both goofy and tactile at the same time. All the CGI in the world can’t replace authentic reactions from actors to something that’s physically in the same space with them.
Cornish cast his film well. All of the gang members have that manic “Goonies” energy that’s both funny and exhausting at the same time. Much of the dialogue is heavily steeped in British slang, and while it may be hard to understand at times, it still remains crisp and engaging, especially from two young wannabe thugs (Sammy Williams and Michael Ajao) who steal every scene they’re in.
A special mention goes to John Boyega as Moses, who delivers a strong performance as a young man who seeks to be respected as an adult, but must first learn to take full responsibility for his actions. It could have easily been an over the top performance in “The Warriors” vain, but Boyega reels it in, showing much of his character’s strength (and fear) through his actions. He’s going to be one to watch in the coming years.
“Attack of the Block” is a warm reminder that films can still be fun and entertaining even with a lack of budget and a well worn premise. It’s a labor of love from Joe Cornish (not a soulless corporate entity) and it shows. Hopefully he’ll maintain this approach to filmmaking in the coming years and not ‘go Hollywood’ when a studio decides to throw tons of money at him to direct their next ‘branded franchise.’
“Deeds, not words…”
0 comments:
Post a Comment