Boys in Hoods
I watched Attack the Block, a film by Joe Cornish (of Adam and Joe fame). I don't mind telling you, I was more than a wee bit apprehensive but I have to admit that it has completely won me over.
Described as a sci-fi comedy it certainly appears to have those elements sewn up given the production team's credentials, Nira Park and Edgar Wright have production credits, and the premise involves alien invasion, neither of these elements were the key for me. As is often the case with invasion films we find our protectors in the most unlikely guises and here we find a group of teenage 'hoodies' from a high rise estate in Brixton as our best chance at survival.
I felt worried about representations at the outset of the film as the gang, composed mainly of black youths, are initially seen mugging a young, lone female at knife point - I thought more of Joe Cornish...I should have had more faith. The gang, some of whom sacrifice themselves in the process, not only save the earth but also arguably themselves from stereotype.
One element of the film that I never felt in doubt about was the cinematography and the overall aesthetic; beautifully shot in very lovely silvers and golds. The whole film is highly polished and quite sumptuous.The aliens themselves look fantastic, sort of like the cup-a-soup 'great big hug in a mug' monster, but with legs, luminous teeth and a slightly more aggressive style of human contact.
Peter Bradshaw draws a comparison between Attack the Block and Mathieu Kassovitz's La Haine (1995) citing them as 'something from much the same world' and this is where I feel most comfortable with the film. Seen in the light of the recent 'London riots' and David Cameron's notion that it is the fault of a 'growth in gang culture among inner-city youths who lack supportive family networks'; a criminal minority that frequently indulges in bouts of anti-social behaviour rather than play a productive role in society. A notion which of course completely absolves him and his government and those that have come before of any culpability - they have simply made a choice. He forwards an idea that British society is "broken", but still feels confident to sell the country abroad as 'Great', is perhaps at best a smidge hypocritical, at worst downright deceptive. The idea that there are few or no opportunities or choices for certain groups is unthinkable and it certainly has nothing to do with privilege but just strength of character. The actions of this group might help redress that notion - I hope so - as ultimately the characters are thrown into a situation, have responsibility thrust upon them and acquit themselves more than admirably without any loss of individualism, or any discernible change in themselves, or having to align themselves with the generally prescribed notion of a 'functioning' society.
Jodie Whitaker's Sam feels like an important feature of the film as, for me, she plays like a Jimmy Stewart-type of every(wo)man who is very easy to empathise with, almost to the point where you can project yourself onto her character. Her final words are beautifully understated and right on the mark - avoiding over sentimentality and directly addressing the issues arguably at the heart of the film. Not to mention that her character is a nurse, perhaps akin to the youths as, while in employment, a member of a group that strives for recognition, and receives either maltreatment or lack of recognition, from government. It is a lovely performance that I don't wish to suggest is devoid of any professionalism or skill but rather is perfectly pitched for the role.
Absolutely see it, you may not love it but it is well worth seeing a derided portion of society being represented in a fair and honest way and thinking...what would I normally have thought? At least I thought that, and it was fun and humbling; what I like to call...funbuling. J
Described as a sci-fi comedy it certainly appears to have those elements sewn up given the production team's credentials, Nira Park and Edgar Wright have production credits, and the premise involves alien invasion, neither of these elements were the key for me. As is often the case with invasion films we find our protectors in the most unlikely guises and here we find a group of teenage 'hoodies' from a high rise estate in Brixton as our best chance at survival.I felt worried about representations at the outset of the film as the gang, composed mainly of black youths, are initially seen mugging a young, lone female at knife point - I thought more of Joe Cornish...I should have had more faith. The gang, some of whom sacrifice themselves in the process, not only save the earth but also arguably themselves from stereotype.
Peter Bradshaw draws a comparison between Attack the Block and Mathieu Kassovitz's La Haine (1995) citing them as 'something from much the same world' and this is where I feel most comfortable with the film. Seen in the light of the recent 'London riots' and David Cameron's notion that it is the fault of a 'growth in gang culture among inner-city youths who lack supportive family networks'; a criminal minority that frequently indulges in bouts of anti-social behaviour rather than play a productive role in society. A notion which of course completely absolves him and his government and those that have come before of any culpability - they have simply made a choice. He forwards an idea that British society is "broken", but still feels confident to sell the country abroad as 'Great', is perhaps at best a smidge hypocritical, at worst downright deceptive. The idea that there are few or no opportunities or choices for certain groups is unthinkable and it certainly has nothing to do with privilege but just strength of character. The actions of this group might help redress that notion - I hope so - as ultimately the characters are thrown into a situation, have responsibility thrust upon them and acquit themselves more than admirably without any loss of individualism, or any discernible change in themselves, or having to align themselves with the generally prescribed notion of a 'functioning' society.
Jodie Whitaker's Sam feels like an important feature of the film as, for me, she plays like a Jimmy Stewart-type of every(wo)man who is very easy to empathise with, almost to the point where you can project yourself onto her character. Her final words are beautifully understated and right on the mark - avoiding over sentimentality and directly addressing the issues arguably at the heart of the film. Not to mention that her character is a nurse, perhaps akin to the youths as, while in employment, a member of a group that strives for recognition, and receives either maltreatment or lack of recognition, from government. It is a lovely performance that I don't wish to suggest is devoid of any professionalism or skill but rather is perfectly pitched for the role.
Absolutely see it, you may not love it but it is well worth seeing a derided portion of society being represented in a fair and honest way and thinking...what would I normally have thought? At least I thought that, and it was fun and humbling; what I like to call...funbuling. J
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