ironhorse_iv
This movie deserves a yellow card to anybody who watches it. Directed by Lexi Alexander, this movie really had potential to be, really good. However, the film leaves its audience with bitter taste in their mouth. The movie tells the story of an American journalism student, Matt Buckner (Elijah Woods), whom is framed for drug use by his far more socially powerful roommate and thus expelled from Harvard. Fleeing to England to be with his sister, Shannon Dunham (Claire Forlani) and her family. Matt finds himself involved with the local violent football AKA soccer firm when Shannon's husband's brother, Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam) came for a visit. Matt quickly builds a reputation within the firm, to the point, that Matt's well-concealed past, started to be a big problem for them. Sooner than later, Matt's involvement within the firm, start to create grudges. Can the firm find a way to keep their reputation intact or will the violence within the firm, spill blood into the street? Watch the movie to find out, if you want to. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, this is a nice introduction to the violent underground world of football hooliganism. You really get to learn, a lot about English sport culture with it. Still, the movie had to do, some artistic license when it came to the sport. A good example is the fact that hooliganism doesn't really happen, as much as it used to. While, football hooliganism has been a growing concern in some other European countries in recent years, British football fans now tend to have a better reputation abroad. The United Kingdom has really led a major crackdown on football-related violence. In the year in which, this movie was made, the outbreaks of violence involving fans was far rarer than they were 20 or 30 years ago. Some of the reasons why, is because the higher cost of watching a football game, and the more sophisticated policing. Things, this film rarely mention. Honestly, where in the hell, are the members of the firm, getting their money to watch nearly all these games in the film? The film never explains it. Another is, how in the hell, were these men, not getting caught? They were, clearly seem on security camera. The film makes great use of that, so how is that not possible? Anyways, the movie makes you, had to suspense your disbelief, even more, when some of the football teams, they played against, don't really played. A good example is that match between West Ham & Birmingham City. They weren't even in the same division. It would have been impossible for the two clubs to play league games against each other during that season. Plus, no football team in the world plays two games in two days. At first, the football club of West Ham welcome the film-makers, at their Upton Park ground; as they were under the impression that the film was celebrating the glorious game and its fanatical supporters, but once they realized the film's true take on the subject. The team disassociated themselves from the project. This is why, there weren't anymore, stadium footage, besides the first game. Another problem that the movie has, is how it was full of errors in geography. It really became jarring to see London's locations, being portray as Manchester's locations. I guess, the filmmakers of the film really didn't care, that people can tell the different. Another thing that didn't work was the film's message. The film tries to convey that you need to know when to stand your ground and when to run away. Perhaps it does, but the over glorious of stupid violence is a bit jarring to watch. After all, there were little to no strong reason, why these people should hate each other. It wasn't like, them, were fighting for some type of strong social cause. It was about, their moronic reputation. Honestly, I don't know, what's worse, people endangering themselves, over nothing or the fact, they endangering their own family over something really stupid. While, the action was cool, I really don't get, how that a 'stand your ground' moment. It's even more apparent, that violence is frequently an easy way to solve one's problems, rather than taking the gentleman's route in this film. It really questionable. While, I can never understand, their drive. I have to say, the majority of the characters, here, are somewhat likable, however, some more than others for me. At first, I love Elijah Woods as the naïve outsider, but toward the end, I just couldn't bare; seeing him on screen, when the majority of the problems throughout the film is cause by his own stupidity. I really didn't like the movie gave him, the only happy ending, and everybody else, tragic ones. It was not bittersweet at all. Another actor that seem to shine, was Charlie Hunnam as the enigmatic gang leader. I really do believe, that this role, allow Hunnam to gain the lead role in the critically acclaimed FX TV Series Sons of Anarchy, because how amazing, he was, here. However, some of the English men's highly questionable crockery accent, felt like a serious flaw. I really can't understand what they were saying, most of the time. This movie really needed subtitles at times. This film did received a sequel, but it has little to connection to the original film. In my opinion, it's not a good watch. Overall: While, this sport hooligan culture movie reach its goal in entertaining me. I was really disappointed, in how the movie ends and resulted in mixed messages. I do recommended watching, but if I had, my choice of watching this, over American football. I would had to choose, the latter.
Kalle_it
The movie get so many things wrong or depicts them in such a hackneyed way it's hard to take it seriously or to fathom where all the raving reviews came from.Apparently one of the most violent firms in English football have no qualms about letting in a preppy American student with zero credentials and negative knowledge about football...But that's fine, because those hooligans aren't terrible people when not dealing with football... One of them is an airline pilot, another one has the odd position of History AND P.E. teacher at a primary school (unrelated subjects, but go figure... those pesky London schools) and he's even allowed to have random strangers play with/give lectures to his kids...Alas, all good things come to an end when the jealous henchman decides it's time to betray his pals and strikes a deal (for what?) with the leader of their/his fiercest and most deranged rivals... Things take a turn for the worse, the traitor has another change of heart and comes back for the save.Frodo can now go back to the U.S., a tougher man, but also more mature and fair, because that's the lesson he learned while bonding with a bunch of friendly psychopaths in London.Last, but surely not least, the hooligans scene depicted in the movie would have vaguely been credible in the mid 80s, with the bleak neighbourhoods, the stereotypical "working class England" setting and, mainly, the complete absence of stadium security that has been enforced since English Football has become a multi-millionaire business that can't be disrupted by a bunch of maladjusted thugs.P.S. The scene where one of the GSE mocks the rival fans on the pitch dressed as a steward (or being one?!) sums it up pretty well... In contemporary football you couldn't pull it off, not even on the crappiest amateur field, let alone at a Premier League game. You'd not even get close to the stands and you'd be filmed by security cameras from 10 different angles. And no more stadium for you... But apparently the movie takes place in an alternate dimension where no such things exist.
