Green Street Hooligans (2005)

A wrongfully expelled Harvard undergrad moves to London, where he is introduced to the violent underworld of football hooliganism.

Director:

Lexi Alexander

Writers:

Lexi Alexander (story), Dougie Brimson (story)

Stars:

Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elijah Wood	...	Matt Buckner
Charlie Hunnam	...	Pete Dunham
Claire Forlani	...	Shannon Dunham
Marc Warren	...	Steve Dunham
Leo Gregory	...	Bovver
Geoff Bell	...	Tommy Hatcher
Kieran Bew	...	Ike
Henry Goodman	...	Carl Buckner
Christopher Hehir	...	Keith
Terence Jay	...	Jeremy Van Holden
Ross McCall	...	Dave
Francis Pope	...	Ned
Rafe Spall	...	Swill
David Alexander	...	Nigel
Oliver Allison	...	Ben Dunham

Storyline

Unjustly expelled from Harvard when a stash of cocaine is found in his possession, Matt moves to London to live with his sister and her husband Steve. He is quickly introduced to Steve's chirpy, cock-sure younger brother Pete. Initially, Pete is reluctant to get acquainted with Matt and allow him to tread around the capital city with him because he may be seen by others as an 'outsider', but after a heavy drinking session with him and his mates he quickly changes his opinion of him. On the way back from a football match, Matt is viciously accosted by a gang of Birmingham City thugs, until Pete and his friends step in and save him. It is from here that Matt learns the truth about Pete and his friends- they are football hooligans, operating the GSE (Green Street Elite) 'firm.' Initially afraid of the violence, Matt soon ends up becoming as desensitized to it as his new found friends - but as events roll on, suspicion, shocking revelations and unsettled scores combine to a devastating ...

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Plot Keywords:

hooliganism | hooligan | bar fight | london england | male camaraderie | 

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Taglines:

Just think of someone you hate.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Sport | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brutal violence, pervasive language and some drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Hardy was considered for the role of Pete Dunham.

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Goofs

Actual trains departing London to Manchester leave from Euston Station, not Kings Cross or Paddington.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Pete Dunham: Fuck me. If I knew we was going to a bar mitzvah, I would have brought me fuckin' skull cap. Mate, Tottenham's due north. Are you lost? Or just fucking stupid?

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Connections

Referenced in Dominic Monaghan Interviews Elijah Wood (2004)

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Soundtracks

Run from the Pigs
Written and Performed by Terence Jay
With Balazs Szalai, Dae Sik Kim, 'Ricky Hernandez' (as Ricky J. Hernandez)

User Reviews

A powerful film about loss and being alone resolved into belonging through a Football Firm (gang).

5 Stars; A truly great film, with a powerful story. Beautifully photographed, in London, Wow! The audience was quickly involved, and laughed, started, and gave a standing ovation at the end. Truly a complete film, thank you for having a real ending to the film, which is so rare these days. Never apologize for this film, it is loving, stark, caring, hard, honest, violent, and beautiful. It touches the emotions, and the feeling of not belonging that exists within many of us, and that longing for love and brotherhood, that is not available without some dire costs. The characters were so clearly human, powerful and conflicted one was drawn to care for everything that happened to them and cheer at their triumphs and sit in horror at their losses.

I have recommended that everyone see this film during SXSW. My wife and I were expecting an audience award for the film, which it easily won, however the Jury Award was also won and we were give true appreciation for the jury system at SXSW.

Beautiful photographed, with outstanding music, this production hits all the marks out of the ballpark and should be studied for how powerful film today could be. This is the level of film making I aspire to achieve.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Italian German

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Yank

Filming Locations:

Royal Exchange, Cornhill, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$48,760, 11 September 2005

Gross USA:

$346,830

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,814,717

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baker Street, MWM Studios, Yank Film Finance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1