Mark Kermode reviews Green Street on the Simon Mayo show. When Simon asks the sports reporter his favourite film. Mark follows up with a geeky question.
This film had two great moments - 'I Wanna be Adored' and 'Waterfall' by the mighty Stone Roses. Whilst the film is on close your eyes and listen for best effect.
I wouldn't be shocked if the film was a marketing ploy by West Ham to try and get more overseas fans. West Ham get a mention in almost every Guy Richie style clone these days, which are about as representative of the UK as the royal family. Regardless of whether or not it was historically accurate, I much preferred Damned United as an all round football film, though Michael Sheen did sound a little too welsh for my liking.
I’ve always thought Football Factory was meant as a dark comedy set in the world of hooliganism ever since my 1st watch of it.I haven’t watched it for years now but I’ve seen it around 5 times as I really enjoyed it as a dark comedy.I think Kermode watched it thinking it was meant to be a serious commentary on hooliganism like I.D which is my favourite film about hooliganism,I agree with Kermode 99% of the time but I honestly think he’s got Football Factory twisted & he’s watched it from the wrong point of view!Or maybe I’ve got it wrong & it was a really bad film to the point it was hilarious at points🤷🏽♂️
A Hollywood take on a problem that is pretty much in the past now in the UK. (It usually takes them 30-50 years for them to catch up on stuff that happens 'abroad').
Saw Green Street AFTER hearing this review and expected to agree with Mark. In the end I thought it was really good and he has misjudged it immensely. Hooliganism is only ever an absolute disgrace. This movie doesn’t change that. But what Mark considers to be a lack of a moral compass, I consider to be in line with the Shakespearean tragedies where the protagonists bring about their own demise through their own foolishness. The movie is non-judgmental but it is not morally blind.
Did he actually finish the movie? I agree the accent was bad, but the end of the movie is him moving back to America realising that the violence was wrong, one Dunham is k illed, the other has been stabbed in the neck and his wife has gone to America due to it being unsafe to live with him. How is that a glorification of it by the end.
I recently watched the straight-to-dvd Green Street 2 and I'm really not sure why, needless to say it was AWFUL. @bamigogy12345 Football Factory pales in comparison to the Firm (Alan Clarke's version) and Awaydays.
i think green street hooligans is a realy good movie about fighting for yourself, and it's entertaining as well. sometimes it's a bit cheesy, especially at the beginning, but that doesn't matter. i regard this as one of the better films i've seen, for it's substance. it's unbelievable mark kermode trashes this movie because it's about hooligans. would he trash all gangstermovies?
Frodo goes to football.
This is why you're hot, Mark.
This film had two great moments - 'I Wanna be Adored' and 'Waterfall' by the mighty Stone Roses. Whilst the film is on close your eyes and listen for best effect.
I love how mark goes all film buff on Phil Tufnell.
I wouldn't be shocked if the film was a marketing ploy by West Ham to try and get more overseas fans. West Ham get a mention in almost every Guy Richie style clone these days, which are about as representative of the UK as the royal family. Regardless of whether or not it was historically accurate, I much preferred Damned United as an all round football film, though Michael Sheen did sound a little too welsh for my liking.
Charlie Hunnam's accent actually got to the point where it put me off of the film's storyline.
I thought Charlie Hunnam did a pretty convincing Icelandic accent in this
I see The Football Factory as a comedy, a dark one, maybe often unintentionally at times.
I’ve always thought Football Factory was meant as a dark comedy set in the world of hooliganism ever since my 1st watch of it.I haven’t watched it for years now but I’ve seen it around 5 times as I really enjoyed it as a dark comedy.I think Kermode watched it thinking it was meant to be a serious commentary on hooliganism like I.D which is my favourite film about hooliganism,I agree with Kermode 99% of the time but I honestly think he’s got Football Factory twisted & he’s watched it from the wrong point of view!Or maybe I’ve got it wrong & it was a really bad film to the point it was hilarious at points🤷🏽♂️
Football Factory is actually great!!
Mark Kermode's Charlie Hunnam accent is even better than Charlie Hunnam's Charlie Hunnam accent.
Tuffers' favourite film is Apocalypse Now?! I love him more than I already did.
A Hollywood take on a problem that is pretty much in the past now in the UK. (It usually takes them 30-50 years for them to catch up on stuff that happens 'abroad').
"Football goes to football"
Make that movie, NOW!
@olivershuffrey yeah, the end shot of frodo baggins singing "i'm forever blowing bubbles" is staggeringly absurd.
The lead gang members accent was OTT like
Completely agree. This film lacks any credibility at all. The lead is an absolute disgrace. Anyone living in London will find this laughable.
Well Said
ID is a decent hooligan film. Some suspect acting here and there, but a good concept and overall a good film.
Football Factory is a good film.
How can he be "a Harvard graduate" and "kicked out of Harvard"?
post-grad?
The film was shockingly bad. I agree with Kermode on its moral vacuity too.
I thought the movie was okay but Mark is right, that accent was horrible.
Green street was a brilliant film
i liked it in a so bad its good kinda way
Saw Green Street AFTER hearing this review and expected to agree with Mark. In the end I thought it was really good and he has misjudged it immensely. Hooliganism is only ever an absolute disgrace. This movie doesn’t change that. But what Mark considers to be a lack of a moral compass, I consider to be in line with the Shakespearean tragedies where the protagonists bring about their own demise through their own foolishness. The movie is non-judgmental but it is not morally blind.
Did he actually finish the movie? I agree the accent was bad, but the end of the movie is him moving back to America realising that the violence was wrong, one Dunham is k illed, the other has been stabbed in the neck and his wife has gone to America due to it being unsafe to live with him. How is that a glorification of it by the end.
I recently watched the straight-to-dvd Green Street 2 and I'm really not sure why, needless to say it was AWFUL.
@bamigogy12345 Football Factory pales in comparison to the Firm (Alan Clarke's version) and Awaydays.
i think green street hooligans is a realy good movie about fighting for yourself, and it's entertaining as well. sometimes it's a bit cheesy, especially at the beginning, but that doesn't matter.
i regard this as one of the better films i've seen, for it's substance. it's unbelievable mark kermode trashes this movie because it's about hooligans. would he trash all gangstermovies?
@G-Funk 1 ahahahahahah
You'll seldomly find a football fan who doesn't like Green Street. The most charming film ever made, not having this one at all sorry.
Charlie Hunnam ruined the film with that Australian accent
One of the most embarrassingly bad unbelievable films I've seen
I.D is by far the best film about football hooliganism,saying that Greenstreet isn't as bad as 'Kermode would have you believe.
Nah, sorry mate - The Firm is the best hoolie film. All the more impressive for the fact that Millwall boy Gary Oldman is playing a West Ham fan! 🙂
The film’s well acted, well characterised & stylish, however the film’s unfocused, poorly directed, poorly written & dull. (45%) (2/5 stars) (mixed)
You what?