Attack the Block (2011)

Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block is a near-masterpiece of sustained excitement that seems destined to become an enduring cult favorite. Despite the deafening buzz around the film geek circuit, I am skeptical as to how well it will do at the box office in its North American release. (My theater had 15 people in it at the most.) Yet this is a film that should appeal to anyone who enjoys movies at their most thrilling. It moves by with such speed that many may not realize just how fully-realized the universe is. If this film is any indication, Cornish—an English comedian making his directorial debut—has the rarest of gifts indeed: an ability to stage action that provides both superficial entertainment and effective emotional beats. Despite the relative simplicity of the plot, no one involved in Attack the Block played it safe.

The film focuses on a small band of misfits who live in a run-down neighborhood of south London. They spend their nights mugging innocent civilians—such as a nurse played by Jodie Whittaker—and engaging in various acts of debauchery. When one of these nights is interrupted by an alien invasion, the group’s head honcho Moses (John Boyega) leads them all in a battle to defend their apartment building against these intergalactic invaders. As the film goes on, they begin to piece together the reasons for this attack, and they seek refuge in the abode of the marijuana dealer Ron (Nick Frost).

Lucky for me, I didn’t know a great deal about Attack the Block going in. I knew the general premise—and the rumors that it was quite good—but I was able to avoid the trailers and most detailed reviews. This made the adrenaline rush all the more enjoyable, and the film had its intended effect at almost every moment. When it wanted me to laugh, I laughed. When it wanted me to be frightened, I was. For a director whose background is almost entirely in comedy, the command Cornish has over every waking moment is remarkable. The film has a visual flair usually reserved for projects of twice the budget and half the brains.

Attack the Block could have been a great film if all its pleasures existed entirely on the surface. Yet Cornish and company have a higher aim than the film’s plot may let on: Attack the Block is actually about the introverted lives that people tend to live in an urban area akin to the eponymous “block.” The central gang sees the block as their turf, yet they find their territory threatened in more ways than one. The most blatant example is, obviously, the alien invasion, but the film finds multiple ways to comment on how little we tend to care for the world outside our own personal bubbles. There is a drug dealer—besides Ron—who reacts violently when he starts to feel that his territory is threatened. Certain characters meet other characters without even knowing they lived in the same building. One constantly stoned character frequently has his iPod in his ears, and many don’t even realize the alien invasion is occurring until it comes knocking on their door. Every character in Attack the Block greets the unknown with fear, aggression, confusion or ignorance.

Of course, the true genius of the film won’t hit you until you walk out of the theater. While it’s playing, you will know what you’re seeing is exciting, but you may not be sure if there’s all that much to it. Yet the further you get from Attack the Block, the true audacity of the project comes into focus. It is, in many ways, an entirely different film from Neill Blomkamp’s District 9, but its impact is similar. Both are scrappy underdog films that bury relatively profound subtext beneath 90-odd minutes of nonstop sci-fi violence and action. Like the best educational videos, it is so entertaining you don’t even realize you’re learning something. (I do not claim Attack the Block teaches you anything, but you cannot deny its merits as art.) Also, there’s profanity. And tons of it.

Attack the Block seems as if it could be the launching point for several careers. John Boyega—in his first film performance—adds more depth to his performance than he has any right to. If the industry has half a brain, they will start casting him in as many star-making roles as possible. However, writer/director Cornish remains the breakout star of Attack the Block. Along with Edgar Wright—who produced this film—he has written the screenplays for Spielberg’s upcoming Tintin film and the yet-to-be-produced Ant-Man adaptation. Perhaps he will go on to be a mainstay among Hollywood screenwriters, but I’m most excited to see what Cornish is able to create the next time he steps behind the camera. Here is a man who was able to create entertainment of the highest order with less money than Michael Bay throws away in an afternoon, and that is a reason to take notice. In this or any year, a film like Attack the Block is a joy to behold.

GRADE: A

There has been some debate as to whether Americans will be able to understand the thick accents in this film. For me, this was not a problem. I understood at least 90% of the dialogue, which is more than good enough. Even if you don’t understand a word, you’ll always know what’s happening.