Rise of the Footsoldier

Directed by Julian Gilbey

Starring: Ricci Harnett, Craig Fairbrass, Roland Manookian, Terry Stone

Review:

In recent years, crime bio pics have established a few familiar and well used formulae: the formative years intro, complete with nostalgic glimpses of period fashions and music, iconic images or world famous events shown or spoken about by cast members. A narration by the main lead role usually underpins the proceedings, for example the brilliant Goodfellas, and for the British Gangster theme we have seen this done exceptionally well in Gangster Number One.

Rise of the Footsoldier sticks to a formula that works well but leaves behind the glamour of Italian American organised crime in New York, and the cool edginess of swinging 60’s London and drops us, after a brief explanatory monologue over grisly images of shotgun victims in a morgue, straight into the violence of the football terraces of the 70’s.

At this point I feel it is worth remembering that the event’s portrayed in the climactic scenes of this film actually did take place, those of you who do not reside in the U.K or are not familiar with the exploits of Carlton Leach will every now and then remember that this is an actual man, and he is telling his story bluntly and without compromise.

Carlton Leach, if events in this film are to be believed, was a violent merciless thug who enjoyed inflicting pain on other people, engaged in numerous criminal activities and was complicit by silence in at least two pointless murders. He was a serial adulterer, and also on occasion, due to massive steroid misuse, a violently abusive spouse. He tells the story of how he became one of the most notorious men in the Essex underworld frankly, with utter honesty and does not ask for forgiveness or even understanding.

As mentioned, Carlton (ably played by Ricci Harnett) was a fledging Football Hooligan in the West Ham ‘Inter City Firm’ during their early days.

The film charts his move into Nightclub Security and the formation of his own firm (as a front for various criminal endeavours) the Rave phenomenon, and eventually meeting Anthony Tucker and Pat Tate the notorious Gangsters whose increasingly coke fuelled rampages lead to the film’s grisly conclusion.

All the while Carlton’s personal life seems to implode in slow motion as his ability to relate to his family is compromised by drugs, anger and the stress of what he actually does for a living.

Director Julian Gilbey sets a brutish gritty tone from the first instant. The opening sequence is a series of rucks and punch ups with rival Hooligan firms culminating with a cataclysmic riot with Manchester United firm the Red Army. The sequence is startling for a few reasons firstly for the attention to period detail in every way. It’s all seamless from the threads to the facial hair. The standing football stadiums, to the body language. And secondly for the violence. It’s very, very real. Gilbey has managed to capture the frenetic nature of gang fighting perfectly. It is not some simple two sided brawl, Gilbey manages to cover individual combat within the tableau, timed perfectly and edited extremely tightly whilst losing none of the momentum. The special effects are exactly gory enough, and the sound effects which accompany the headbutts punches and glassings are stomach churning which is exactly as it should be.

Carlton’s Football Hooligan days come to an end with an explosive confrontation with the Millwall ‘Treatment’ in an underground station which to my mind is the most impressive large action set piece of the film.

As Carlton moves into the murky world of ‘Security’ the action becomes smaller in scale but much more graphic and cruel. The first portion of the film is an examination of the motives for Hooliganism, in Carlton’s case, because he enjoyed it immensely and was good at it. The filming reflects this youthful exuberance, but when Carlton moves into the underworld proper, the tone and style of the film becomes darker and more sombre, much takes place at night or in dark imposing locations with gloomy lighting.

At first Carlton’s meeting with Tony seems to herald an upswing in his fortunes, Tony becomes a mentor figure to the somewhat directionless Carlton and things seem to be promising. Until of course Pat (played by Craig Fairbass) arrives.

This is a really good film, on lots of levels. As a gangster pic it works just fine. As a bio of real and fascinating characters it works as well. But as an action movie, in my opinion it really delivers. I have rarely seen a film which brings the reality of crime and violence right in front of the viewer so effectively. Or which keeps you preoccupied and uneasy for quite so long afterwards.

Verdict:

This film deserves and gets a 7 out of 10, with my only misgivings concerning the occasionally disjointed plot, but as this is a biographical movie it can be forgiven for not padding out the occasional slow spot with filler.

(Review by Sulaco)

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