Review of Green Street Hooligans (2005) by Tarek F — 26 May 2014
"Green Street Hooligans" Review.
Starring Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, and directed by Lexi Alexander, "Green Street Hooligans" is like "The Basketball Diaries" in London. "Green Street Hooligans" is a film about "standing your ground" and in the end changes the live of one character entirely.
Wood's character is Matt Buckner, an undergrad Harvard student that takes the fall for his roommate by being expelled, since his roommate put cocaine in his personal belongings. Matt's sister and brother-in-law Shannon Dunham (Claire Forlani) and Steve Dunham (Marc Warren) let him visit them in London. One day Shannon and Steve are going to see a Broadway show and do not know what to do with Matt. All of a sudden, Matt falls into getting to know Steve's brother Pete (Hunnam). Pete is a crazy soccer fan and all about drinking and violence. Once Matt tells Pete his story of why he got kicked out of Harvard, Pete brings Matt to every violent and drinking occasion around to prove to him what it is like to stand up for one's self.
Throughout "Green Street Hooligans," Buckner wants to be ferocious with Pete and his pals. He is a mellow college kid, smart, has a bright future, but he lacks with confrontation. The setup of the film is to have Buckner evolve into someone who he has not been before, and Alexander's directing style is carefully crafted that his viewers expect something ugly, but cinematic to happen.
Shannon is not a fan of Pete, but it is for the sake Matt. "Green Street Hooligans" brings some partial family issues into play with Matt, Shannon, Pete, and Steve. Steve use to be in the gang with Pete until he got married and had a kid; Pete never left the violent world he lives in; Shannon did not attend her mother's funeral once she passed away; and as for Matt, he is expelled but wants to learn how to seek revenge. "Green Street Hooligans" has these family issues as if they are the key point to why there is so much drama with everyone involved in the film.
Matt and Pete's friendship evolve as gang members, but as Pete's tone becomes more courteous towards Matt, its obvious he wants Matt to be firm with his own self.
Overall, "Green Street Hooligans" is a film that is exhilarating in many ways. Four stars.
This review of Green Street Hooligans (2005) was written by Tarek F on 26 May 2014.
Green Street Hooligans has generally received positive reviews.
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