Green Street Hooligans
3/4
Starring: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani, Leo Gregory, Mar Warren, Geoff Bell
Rated R for Brutal Violence, Pervasive Language and Some Drug Use
I wasn't planning on watching this movie today. But then a friend of mine started talking about it learned that not only had I not seen it, but owned a copy of it on DVD, well, there was no stopping him. Kevin would literally not hang up the phone until I pressed play; he even went so far as to say that he would go online to watch his favorite scenes while I watched the movie. While I can't exactly share his zealous passion for the film, I did enjoy it for what it was.
As of this moment, Harvard journalism prodigy Matt Buckner's life has taken a similar turn to that of Job. His connected roommate has all but forced him to take the fall for cocaine possession. Now expelled, Matt finds himself in England visiting his sister Shannon (Forlani). She's married to a handsome Brit named Steve (Warren) and has a beautiful baby. But Steve's brother Pete (Hunnam) is another matter altogether. The head of the Green Street Elite, his life revolves around getting drunk and beating the hell out of anyone who opposes the. On paper, they support West Ham United, but it's really about reputations and setting scores. Pete draws Matt into the firm with devastating consequences.
Elijah Wood has, for the most part, made his career playing the innocent. Whether it be the Huck Finn or a nerd in "Deep Impact," the word "assertive" isn't something one would use to describe a typical Elijah Wood character. That's different here; he initially starts out as a spineless dweeb, but under the influence of Pete and the GSE, he becomes a true badass; he drinks like a fish, swears like a longshoreman, and when he tastes the adrenaline of violence, he becomes addicted to it. Claire Forlani can only watch in horror as his sister, and his brother-in-law wants nothing to do with him. His main influence is Pete, who is a study in contradictions. A notorious thug who values his reputation above all else, he's also a beloved teacher. Charlie Hunnam makes a difficult role seem effortless.
"Green Street Hooligans" could easily have been a traditional sports movie. But Lexi Alexander sees it differently. Perhaps it's her background (she started out as a martial artist), but she sees it as a study in toxic masculinity. Fueled by alcohol and far too much testosterone, Alexander portrays these guys as brutes who use violence and bragging rights as a cover for boredom and perceived inadequacies. Think "Fight Club" with a little "American Psycho" thrown in for seasoning.
For about an hour, "Green Street Hooligans" works well as both an adrenaline cocktail and social commentary. But when Alexander starts to move towards its inevitable conclusion, it loses the latter aspect of the film that made it so interesting. It all feels obligatory and routine. The strong performances keep it afloat to be sure, and they give the ending its punch. But there's no denying that something is lost once the goal becomes tying up loose ends.
Still, for those who are interested. "Green Street Hooligans" is worth checking out.
Starring: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani, Leo Gregory, Mar Warren, Geoff Bell
Rated R for Brutal Violence, Pervasive Language and Some Drug Use
I wasn't planning on watching this movie today. But then a friend of mine started talking about it learned that not only had I not seen it, but owned a copy of it on DVD, well, there was no stopping him. Kevin would literally not hang up the phone until I pressed play; he even went so far as to say that he would go online to watch his favorite scenes while I watched the movie. While I can't exactly share his zealous passion for the film, I did enjoy it for what it was.
As of this moment, Harvard journalism prodigy Matt Buckner's life has taken a similar turn to that of Job. His connected roommate has all but forced him to take the fall for cocaine possession. Now expelled, Matt finds himself in England visiting his sister Shannon (Forlani). She's married to a handsome Brit named Steve (Warren) and has a beautiful baby. But Steve's brother Pete (Hunnam) is another matter altogether. The head of the Green Street Elite, his life revolves around getting drunk and beating the hell out of anyone who opposes the. On paper, they support West Ham United, but it's really about reputations and setting scores. Pete draws Matt into the firm with devastating consequences.
Elijah Wood has, for the most part, made his career playing the innocent. Whether it be the Huck Finn or a nerd in "Deep Impact," the word "assertive" isn't something one would use to describe a typical Elijah Wood character. That's different here; he initially starts out as a spineless dweeb, but under the influence of Pete and the GSE, he becomes a true badass; he drinks like a fish, swears like a longshoreman, and when he tastes the adrenaline of violence, he becomes addicted to it. Claire Forlani can only watch in horror as his sister, and his brother-in-law wants nothing to do with him. His main influence is Pete, who is a study in contradictions. A notorious thug who values his reputation above all else, he's also a beloved teacher. Charlie Hunnam makes a difficult role seem effortless.
"Green Street Hooligans" could easily have been a traditional sports movie. But Lexi Alexander sees it differently. Perhaps it's her background (she started out as a martial artist), but she sees it as a study in toxic masculinity. Fueled by alcohol and far too much testosterone, Alexander portrays these guys as brutes who use violence and bragging rights as a cover for boredom and perceived inadequacies. Think "Fight Club" with a little "American Psycho" thrown in for seasoning.
For about an hour, "Green Street Hooligans" works well as both an adrenaline cocktail and social commentary. But when Alexander starts to move towards its inevitable conclusion, it loses the latter aspect of the film that made it so interesting. It all feels obligatory and routine. The strong performances keep it afloat to be sure, and they give the ending its punch. But there's no denying that something is lost once the goal becomes tying up loose ends.
Still, for those who are interested. "Green Street Hooligans" is worth checking out.
Comments
Post a Comment