Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)

The life of career criminal Carlton Leach.

Director:

Julian Gilbey

Writers:

Julian Gilbey, Will Gilbey

Stars:

Ricci Harnett, Craig Fairbrass, Terry Stone

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ricci Harnett	...	Carlton Leach
Craig Fairbrass	...	Pat Tate
Terry Stone	...	Tony Tucker
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
Andy Linden	...	Peter Dunsdale
Frank Harper	...	Jack Whomes
Jason Maza	...	Rob

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:

male full frontal nudity | pubic hair | female frontal nudity | blow job | torture chamber | 

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Genres:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

18A

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kierston Wareing has also played the same character in Bonded by Blood and The Fall of the Essex Boys.

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Goofs

During the fight with Man United (set in 1982), a D-registration police car pulls up to stop the fight. D-reg cars were manufactured in 1986-87.

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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

Followed by Rise of the Footsoldier Part II (2015)

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Soundtracks

Voodooo Ray
By Guy Called Gerald
Words and Music by G. Simpson
Published by Chrysalis
Music Publication Ltd.
Used with permission
All rights reserved
Licensed courtesy of RHAM Records

User Reviews

Reality vs Movies Making

I thought this was a great movie. I don't get all the bad comments. In truth this movie was based on real events, that's what makes it so great. They're trying to get across the grit and situations of the characters, attempting to make them more real rather than a stylized ideal of what they're supposed to be. If you can't appreciate the realism and would rather see mass produced soulless productions go see something else. For me it did the trick and is representative of the genre, i.e. movies based on real events. Take Ghost in the Darkness, it had a star, Val Kilmer, and a substantial budget yet failed to be a box office success. When a director, and actors are relating a story of this type you expect a rougher display and style. A refined actor would try to change the roll and make it more noble or classy than it was. I'll take unknowns, an interesting story, and a desire to make something more than a box office titan every time.

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 September 2007 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Rise of the Footsoldier

Filming Locations:

Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Westminster, Greater London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$355,345

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carnaby International, Hanover Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1