Green Street (Hooligans) [2005]

As if that's not enough, the detail in this movie is simply shocking. From bad locations to appalling dialgue, this film stinks worse that a month old kipper.

Rumour is that the writer Dougie Brimson -who many will know from his books- actually refused to appear in any of the additional DVD features in protest at what the director did with his script. If true, that's the wisest move taken by anyone involved with this shambles.


Bottom of the league and docked ten points   May 8, 2007
The Grizzly Reviewer (Manchester)
11 out of 20 found this review helpful

Words can't begin to describe just how awful this film is. Alarm bells started ringing when Lexi Alexander allowed the totally unconvincing cockney accent of "lead hooligan" Charlie Hunnam make into the film. Much better actors are wasted on smaller parts in the film.

The much hyped fight scenes are an absolute joke too. The hand-held camera work means that you can never properly concentrate on the action. The director has obviously not done his research properly with regards to the Manchester connection... The choice of station looked nothing like Piccadilly, where the London train pulled in and also, it is totally unfeasible that the Police would actually let hooligans congregate outside the entrance to the main train station into the city. Trust me, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. A scrap in a run down boozer would be much more accurate.

The "moral of the story" is also somewhat questionable in this film. The semi-glamourisation of the 'honour' hooliganism and the fact that Elijah Wood's character, Matt finds redemption from the lesson he learns from his hooligan pals isn't really a very good message to send out. As a football fan myself and a witness to the 'bad old days', I didn't find that a particularly good message to end the film with.


when to stand up for yourself and when to walk away   November 9, 2006
V. Horsewood (UK)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

I think a lot of people are missing the point with this film. For me, it was not so much about football violence as about the morals behind it. The main character, Elijah Wood, does not join the Green Street Elite because he enjoys the hooliganism - he joins because he finds a loyalty with them that he never found back home in America (as is highlighted by the opening scene). The fact that the film also makes you care about people you would normally despise (or should despise) shows how effecive it is at portraying the tragedy of such addiction to violence.
Yes, you can find faults with the film - the GSE leader's cockney accent is very dodgy, some scenes verge on the unbelievable. But as for the leader's walk - take a look around and you'll see that it's the way a lot of people walk when they are trying to look like more than they actually are. And Elijah Wood is not miscast - the fact that he does not look like a football hooligan is exactly the point.
The violence in this film is indeed quite graphic, but that doesn't make it glorified - rather it shows how destructive it can be, not just to the individual but to their families too.
The ending - unlike so many films - provides a satisfying conclusion that sums up the entire film. As Elijah says, it's not about brutal, meaningless violence but about learning 'when to stand up for yourself, and when to walk away.' The point of all the brutality in the film becomes clear as Elijah explains what he learnt from the Green Street Elite's excessive use of violence: that there is an alternative, which can be just as effective.
If you really do want a film about football hooliganism, then this may not be for you - try Football Factory. But as a film in itself, this is great.