Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)

Rise of the Footsoldier follows the inexorable rise of Carlton Leach from one of the most feared generals of the football terraces to becoming a member of a notorious gang of criminals who ... See full summary »

Director:

Julian Gilbey

Writers:

Julian Gilbey, Will Gilbey

Stars:

Ricci Harnett, Terry Stone, Craig Fairbrass

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ricci Harnett	...	Carlton Leach
Terry Stone	...	Tony Tucker
Craig Fairbrass	...	Pat Tate
Roland Manookian	...	Craig Rolfe
Coralie Rose	...	Denny
Neil Maskell	...	Darren Nicholls
Billy Murray	...	Mickey Steele
Ian Virgo	...	Jimmy Gerenuk
Kierston Wareing	...	Kate Carter
Patrick Regis	...	Eddie
Lara Belmont	...	Karen
Emily Beecham	...	Kelly
Frank Harper	...	Jack Whomes
Jason Maza	...	Rob
Mark Killeen	...	Terry

Storyline

Rise of the Footsoldier follows the inexorable rise of Carlton Leach from one of the most feared generals of the football terraces to becoming a member of a notorious gang of criminals who rampaged their way through London and Essex in the late eighties and early nineties. It is three decades of his life following him from football hooliganism, through to his burgeoning career as a bouncer, his involvement in the criminal aspects of the early 'rave' scene and subsequently to his rise to power as one of the most feared and respected criminals in the country.

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Plot Keywords:

criminal | police | soccer | beating | gangland style murder | 

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong bloody/brutal violence, torture and language throughout, drug use, sexuality, and some graphic nudity

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 December 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Futballmaffia

Filming Locations:

Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£85,903 (UK) (7 September 2007)

Gross:

£85,903 (UK) (7 September 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carnaby International, Hanover Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the rave scene, set in 1988 (again), you can spot someone wearing a 2007 season Gio-Goi T-shirt in the crowd.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Carlton Leach: It was the end of an era. But before the murders, the torture, the beatings and the ecstacy... before all of that, there was football. You see, football was where all the spite and the hatred first came from. On those terraces... well, it's where it all began for me.

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Connections

Referenced in Bad Movie Beatdown: Reckoning Day (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Run Run Run"
Written by Andes / Ferguson
Published by Rondor Music London Ltd
Version by The River

User Reviews

Why the bad reviews?

I went to see this film the other day and although its not my type of film, I can't see why the reviews were so bad. Its very violent, very gory and has some real laugh out loud moments and in the cinema I was sitting in it had plenty of "oooo's and ahhh's" so the audience seemed to like it. Its definitely been made for the lads and is a working class film. Its not just some mickey mouse gangster film trying to imitate Lock Stock and two smoking barrels. It has similarities to Goodfellas and I think as a low budget British gangster flick it deserves to be praised for what it is. It has some amazing performances from Ricci Harnett, Terry Stone and Roland Manookian who in my opinion jointly make this film worthy of at least a 3* review and at best 4*. My advice is go and see this film and make up your own mind, don't let some upper class snob who hasn't watched this film properly and obviously has issues with the working class and the British Gangster Genre sway you from what I think is going to be a cult British film like The Football Fatory and Green Street are.