Review of The Football Factory (2004) by Eric R — 11 Sep 2011

Tommy is a 20 something youth who spends him time downing lager and getting into fist fights. He's a soccer hooligan who is part of a Chelsea firm. As Tommy gets into a conflict with a rival football fan and finds his life spinning out of control, he begins to question his lifestyle and commitment to constant violence.

The Football Factory is an adrenaline charged film which is a rather in-depth look into the world of Soccer hooligans and the lifestyle they lead. There is a really interesting aspect of the film involving Tommy's granddad or uncle, I can't remember, who has been through WWII and finds the current state of Britain's youth to be for lack of a better word, depressing.

I almost wish the film focused even more on this character, but he really just serves the purpose of being the only sane person in the entire movie, and the man responsible for making Tommy reflect on his life.

Its a pretty fun flick but its not as good as some of the better films dealing with similar issues, particularly Alan Clarke's The Firm.