Hooligans

A somewhat shallow insight into a world where the ordinary citizen cannot get to and a normal thinking person perhaps does not even want to get to. I am simply not impressed by the issues surrounding football rowdies. I don't understand their caste into clans, their identification with a club that they are willing to defend even at the cost of violence, I don't understand why they are so willing to beat the shit out of each other, why they directly arrange fights with other clans, and this film certainly didn't clarify it for me, even though in the words of one of the main protagonists, Pete, it tried to bring me closer to the mindset of these guys with an excess of testosterone. It's artfully and realistically shot with an impressive atmosphere, it has superb performances (Charlie Hunnam rocks), but it's shallow. And Wood's confession and thank you towards his bully mentor at the very end is tear-jerking (and I don't mean touching). (24.03.2006)

The most interesting aspect of Green Street Hooligans is how it uses the attractive and emotionally charged world of aggressive football fans and football stadiums as a backdrop for its story. The most appealing factor for many fans is the very well-directed brutal fights. The film does a great job of maintaining its pace and tension in this regard. On the other hand, some films can analyze certain subjects, while others simply exploit them, and unfortunately, Green Street Hooligans belongs to the latter group. The whole touching story about brotherly love and the dedicated relationship of young fans to their club is only superficially connected to the hooligan theme, and the reality of this phenomenon is completely different. Hooligans represent an authentic and very dark criminal structure where football doesn't matter, or rather, it is just an excuse for violence. A film about hooligans could contain a social analysis of the frustration of poor teenagers and unemployed immigrants from the suburbs, it could develop an intriguing criminal plot and much more, but here we have a blatant kitsch that is fundamentally dishonest. Elijah Wood is a good actor, but he is not suitable for the role of a young violent person, and above all, I didn't believe for a moment in his transformation from a cultivated intellectual who graduated from an elite American university to a member of a group of fighters who are surrounded by teenagers with basic education and the IQ of a rocking horse. If it were a 16-year-old teenager, I could believe in his metamorphosis, but here it was an artificial construct. Overall impression: 40%. (02.01.2009)

I put this film off unnecessarily, and even I am not a football fan, I enjoyed it. Charlie Hunnam in the prime of his career and Elijah Wood, already known as Frodo, was a fine choice (badass/looser). The movie is fun, gritty, suspenseful. I definitely don't regret watching it. Story****, Action****, Humor***, Violence***, Entertainment****, Music***, Visuals***, Atmosphere****, Suspense***. 8/10. (18.09.2020)

A simple subject that we’ve seen a hundred times before, set in the unusual environment of rival British football hooligans. The film has ferociousness, the fights are shot briskly and clearly, the dramatic relationships between the characters work and the presence of the more commercial icons Elijah Wood and Claire Forlani freshens up the indie feel of this low-budget production. (23.01.2006)

It took me ages to finally force myself into watching the Hooligans, but now I must say that it was really worth it. Wood pretty briskly shook off the Baggins’ image and I’m really grateful for that. It would be a shame if he ended up typecast. As a “brawler" he is just perfect. Lexi Alexander, the female director, made a great impression. Maybe unexpectedly great. The fights are excellent, raw and pulsing with necessary energy and at the same time she manages the psychological side of the movie well and keeps good track of the story line. What more to say. I’m glad I saw it and will happily watch it again sometime. W-H-U! (25.04.2007)