John Boyega has acted professionally for only two years.
So it was a bit of a surprise to him when he landed the first film role he auditioned for: Moses, the troubled teen with hero instincts and the central figure in “Attack the Block!”
The quirky British film, which opened in a handful of cities in late July and is expanding to Atlanta and five more markets this weekend, takes what could have been another brainless teen-oriented romp with aliens and elevates it to something memorable.
The debut for director Joe Cornish has plenty of face-chewing, gorilla-wolf-like aliens and oddly realistic action sequences, but it also has heart and thoughtfulness.
That British newcomer Boyega nails a gamut of emotions in 90 minutes is one reason the 19-year-old actor is now reading multiple scripts for his next project and being courted by Hollywood, where he’s currently based.
Boyega came to Atlanta last week to promote the film and appeared at Straits Restaurant to talk to some media members. The conversation veered from his first starring role to the resemblance he bears to Denzel Washington to his celebrity crush.
Boyega said he lives 10 minutes from where “Attack the Block” was filmed in South London.
“It was fun," he said. "We had great support from the production company. It was easier than it should be.”
The handsome upstart is frequently told he resembles a young Washington, a comparison he greets with a sheepish smile: “I don’t know how to react, so I have to say, cool, cool, cool.”
When asked to name his celebrity crush, Boyega paused for a few seconds before determining, “Meagan Good. I saw her on the Sony lot and I didn’t say hello. Tell her I said I love her.”
Since Boyega’s roots are in South London, he was naturally asked to comment on the recent riots in the city: “It’s very upsetting. It’s affected the area where I live. But I have to say a thank you to the young people taking their brooms and going out there and cleaning up. The media doesn’t show that. I know people who are going out there and sharing positivity and if I could be in London [right now], I would.”
After spending a couple of days in Atlanta, Boyega was seemingly impressed: “This is one of the best cities I’ve come to. The people here are so vibrant, there’s this different energy. I love that you’re cheering when Moses is running down the hallway. ... I like to be involved when I watch a film. I love that about Americans.”
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