Green Street Hooligans
Directed by Lexi Alexander
Written by Lexi Alexander, Dougie Brimson, Josh Shelov
Rated R: for brutal violence, pervasive language and some drug use
Green Street Hooligans, a baroquely executed piece of raw independent filmmaking, loses steam with every passing scene as it progresses from an intriguing look at the UK underworld of hooliganism to laughable farce.
Hooligans opens with Matt Buckner (played by the miscast Elijah Wood) being unfairly expelled from Harvard just a semester away from graduating with a journalism degree. It seems Matt has taken the fall for his loser roommate on a drug beef. We are shown that Matt understands loyalty, honor and friendship, but the people around him don’t return the favor. He decides to fly across the pond and spend some much-needed quality time with older sister Shannon (Claire Forlani, in another lackluster performance), who is married and has a kid in London.
Matt quickly finds friendship, loyalty and honor in Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam, who will appear in the fabulous-looking, Alfonso Cuaron directed Children Of Men), and is drawn into the violent world of hooliganism. Not only is Pete the younger brother of Shannon’s husband, but he is also the leader of the Green Street Elite. The GSE is a firm (or gang if you prefer). Firms are groups of friends in London that literally fight for their local team’s respect by pummeling opposing fans. The GSE supports West Ham United—a soccer (oops, I mean football) team that is average at best. While the team isn’t great, the GSE is known as one of the toughest firms in London. They want to be the most feared and respected firm in the country by any means necessary.
Hooligans has an unrefined quality to it, similar to Troy Duffy’s fantastic Boondock Saints. Both films share a sense of violent storytelling that uses style and flash to entice the viewer into a dark underworld that is different from what most are used to seeing. Where Saints flourished—particularly in the details like believable accents, character development, out of the ordinary narrative, camera work, and likeable characters—is where Hooligans fails. Hunnam has a powerfully youthful exuberance and strong screen presence, but his attempt at the cockney/East London accent (think Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) is laughable. Even more disappointing is the fact the young actor grew up in Newcastle, England.
The film builds toward a ridiculous climax as loyalties are broken between firms, and some members are even killed. The final fight between the GSE and the Millwall firm is over the top. Of course, Matt learns the true meaning of friendship and that is exactly where you expect the film to go. Nothing unforeseen happens, except for the preposterous final minutes when Matt gets his revenge on his old roommate.
The film is best viewed as another stepping-stone—and mild setback—in the career of Elijah Wood as he tries to become an adult in the eyes of the movie going public. Although his performance here is noteworthy, you can’t help but feel he is a tad bit unbelievable as a tough guy. His character arc is the plot’s main driving force, where he goes from weakling journalism student to full-fledged hooligan. This is excruciatingly hard to wrap your mind around. Is it just me, or is Wood the last guy you’d want watching your back in a fight? He’s listed as being 5’6”, and he can’t be more than 130 lbs soaking wet. My point is that I can see why he took on this role, but he is clearly miscast and it ultimately dooms the film.
I hope that Wood continues to pick different films as he continues to carve a career path in off the mainstream films. His post-Lord of the Rings roles have really impressed me, and they’ve really shown his strengths as an actor. From his snaky turn in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind to his creepy, mute performance in Sin City (where his eyes were used to scare the audience instead of gain their adoration) and on to the understated quality he gave to his role in Everything Is Illuminated, he is becoming an actor of substance. Wood has been a part of some of the best films made since 2001.
Hooligans could’ve been a cool look at a world I don’t understand. In the end, it is a rather ridiculous take on a brutal way of life. It is interesting to note that the movie won three awards from three different film festivals: best feature at LA Femme Film Festival; best feature at Malibu Film festival; and a special jury award at the South By Southwest Film Festival. Although I seriously question how good the competition was in those festivals. It is an entertaining film to watch, just nothing special when it’s all said and done.
HDFEST grading scale
-Green Street Hooligans-
Story C+
Acting B-
Visuals C+
Originality B-
Enjoyability B
Overall C+
DVD Extras C-
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