Matt Buckner (Elijah Wood, LORD OF THE RINGS) has been recently kicked out of Harvard where he was studying journalism. He was charged with drug dealing, which was not true, but he was unable to stand up for himself against his powerful roommate, whose father is a senator. Lost at what to do next, Matt travels to England to visit his sister Shannon (Claire Forlani, MALLRATS), who has married a Brit named Steve (Marc Warren, TV’s BAND OF BROTHERS). Steve’s younger brother Pete (Charlie Hunnam, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY) is the leader of the local soccer gang… oh wait, I’d be beaten for that… football firm called the Green Street Elite.
These fans unite in support of their teams, getting drunk and usually getting in bloody fights with firms for opposing teams. At first, Pete wants nothing to do with the Yank Matt, but he decides to take him along to a match nonetheless. Pete’s right hand man Bovver (Leo Gregory, TRISTAN + ISOLDE) is greatly skeptical about allowing Matt to hang with them.
At first Matt seems like a truly unlikely character to bring us into the violent world of firms, but director Lexi Alexander, who also wrote the script with Dougie Brimson and Josh Shelov, wants us to see how anyone can be lured into such a life. Alcohol clearly fuels the violence. Like any other gang, the firms are like extended families to the members, who are willing to die for each other.
However, the film presents both sides of the issue. It doesn’t downplay the rush and camaraderie that draws members to join, but ends on the pointlessness and consequences of not knowing when enough is enough. The film is not afraid to have Matt make “wrong” decisions and learn positive things from them. Yet, it never downplays or overly glorifies the realities of the violence as well.
Without using clichés or melodrama, Wood does a fine job of creating a character who is a push-over at first then grows into a man who can hold his own. Hunnam develops a compelling portrait of a young man, who has a strong code of honor whether it makes rational sense or not. The firms are legendary and there is certainly a compelling draw to put one’s regular life aside to grasp for some kind of immortality. He grew up idolizing former Elite members and wants to carry on the traditions. Additionally, Forlani gives her best performance to date. This well-written drama draws us into its world with believable characters and unforced drama. It does a remarkable job of explaining why groups of men would chose to beat the crud out of each other as a hobby.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
