Movie Review: Green Street Hooligans
Published July 21, 2006
Green Street Hooligans, the first full length directorial effort by Lexi Alexander, takes a look into the explosive world of British football hooliganism and how it not only impacts the game, but the lives of those who get involved. It also sheds light on how far some hooligans will go in order to protect their gang’s honor.
The movie begins with a fight between two “firms,” essentially the groups of hooligans for two different teams. The leader of the Green Street Elite is Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam), a cocky youngster who has no problem smashing a rival’s face through a glass window. As the fight ensues, the scene flashes to a prestigious building at Harvard. Here we see Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood) packing his things.
While he is packing, his roommate, Jeremy Van Holden, hands him a packet of money. As the film goes on, it is revealed that Van Holden hid his cocaine stash in Matt’s closet and when the school got raided, it was Matt who was expelled. Van Holden paid Matt off for his silence as he explained he had a reputation to uphold. Matt takes the money and gets on a flight to London, where his sister Shannon (Claire Forlani) has been living for the past few years with her husband, Steve (Mark Warren) and child.
Matt hasn’t been in London a day before he is cast off to Steve’s younger brother, who, it is revealed, is none other than the aforementioned Pete Dunham. Pete begrudgingly takes Matt to his “place of business” (the local pub) before dragging him to a football match. During this time, the rest of Pete’s “crew” is introduced. To make a long story short, Matt becomes part of the crew, helping them in their wild fights and escapades. The climax of the film is as bloody as it is heartbreaking.
After seeing how French favorite Zidane acted in the final game of the World Cup, it’s no wonder that fans would act even worse. This film clearly shows how deep the hatred between two teams can run. For a first-time director, Alexander does a good job of keeping the viewer visually connected. The fight scenes are graphic and the use of camera angles and stop motion create a jarring sense of reality, where the viewers have to question whether or not they themselves are fighting in a drunken stupor.
The script and characters, however, leave a little to be desired. While I love his acting in other films, I will say this: Elijah Wood will annoy you, whether it is because of his horrible Bostonian accent or because of his character’s inflexible sense of entitlement. He is, in many ways, an “ugly American” who is searching for his identity by appropriating someone else’s (in this case, the identity is that of a British street thug). The moral lesson of the film (that if you want something, you should stand your ground…I’m guessing) is lost amid the British slang and the gratuitous violence.
But there is a moral. Really…there is. You just have to find it. And while the acting and script may not be completely Oscar caliber, the visual beauty of the film makes it well worth watching.
- Movie Review: Green Street Hooligans
- Published: July 21, 2006
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Drama
- Writer: Miss Hipstah
- Miss Hipstah's BC Writer page
- Miss Hipstah's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
This movie was great! I watched this 3 times in the same day and now im buying it.
I would think the lesson/moral of the movie is not to stand your ground if you want something, but to know WHEN to stand your ground, and when to walk away. I think the best thing about this movie is how much you dislike Pete Dunham and his "firm" at the beginning, but by the end you realize how they are "normal" people with normal jobs etc... I would have liked to see that side of the story explored a bit more(Pete was a teacher, another was a pilot etc). They turned to the fighting to fill some sort of void.. regardless of this being under-explored, the movie is a great piece of work that is well worth the time to watch.
i loved the movie and loved charlie hunnam. He's a hottie
i will buy this movie!!!!!!
OMG this film is amazing i love it and CHARLIE HUNNAM gorgeous i can't get enough of him!!!!
Hello, Elijah wood said something at the end of the movie that I forgot to catch and he was sying something aout Pete's death I think that was the actual moral of the story. [Personal contact info deleted] Apart from that I acctually enjoyed the movie. I remember the moral being Pete taught me to stand my ground, his death taught me to know when to walk away... somethn along those lines but apart from that... The movie is absolutely great I wonder who would ccontradict it?! For people have to remember there is more to the movie than the fighting and 'hooliganism'. It's trying to get a message across. I think people tend to forget that. So try and read inbetween the lines. Thanks
Tt
Loved the film! charlie hannam is fit as! he looked well nice in the film :) (l) LY sam x
this movie is F***ing Brillinant!!!!!!!!!!
One of those movies that makes you cherish individuals who do not live their lives merely for themselves...this movie is all about bortherhood and comraderie. The acting on all parts is wonderful-especially Charlie Hunnam--he can bring tears to your eyes at the end when he is willing to put his life on the line for a guy that he only met days before. Highly recommended for all!!
this movie was absolutely amazing! i was speechless when it was over...the whole time it was playing i never wanted it to end. the acting, directing, and script were astounding....i would reccomend this film to anyone (who can handle blood!)
When the elijia goes to the school and plays goalie for the school kids soccer game there is some music playing in the background, if someone could email me the genre or even the name of the band/dj that plays that song they will end my dissatisfied and uneventful search for some truly great (in my mind) music.
Thanks all
-Tim-
I DONT BELIVE IT...
THIS FILM IS EXTREEMLY FABULAARRSS!
I HAVE NEVVAHH WATCHED A FILM SOO GUDD...JUST WISH THERE WAS A SECOND 1!
I CRY WHEN PETE DIES! I LOVE HIM SOO MUCH AND THIS FILM AND THNK HE IS WELL FIT!
WELL GREEN STREET RULES AND I AM THE BIGGEST FAN OF THIS FILM THAN ANY1 OUT THERE!
I DONT HAVE A WORD FOR IT IT IS THAT GOOD!
I LOVE YOU GREEN STREET!
XXXXX
whoever wrote the above review is a faggot
this movie is phenomenal
green street was wicked!!!! a fair dinkum cracker of a movie and as a aussie girl can i just say that charlie hannam is a fine piece of british arse (in this movie, i've seen some pretty dodgy photos) yeah love him hat as shit
oh yeah good movie aswell LOL : )
green streat is d best film goin in d world oh yesh
Awful. Dick Van Dyke's cockney accent in Mary Poppins was more convincing then some of the actors in this. Ludicrous plot badly acted
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/50634)
OMG I AM ONE OF THE BIGGEST FANS OF THIS FILM IT IS RIDICUOUSLY AMAZING COULDNT BE BETTER LOVE IT XXXX