A film that deserves to be a hit!

Rating: 10/10 (13 July 2005)

I saw this movie at the Malibu Film Festival in Santa Monica, California earlier this year, and I must say, it was all I had hoped for and more. I had eagerly awaited it's release in the US and was pleased to be able to see it at one the several film festivals at which it won jury and/or audience awards.
This is a well put together film. The acting, directing, cinematography, script and score are all perfect to portray the movie's intent. Cast with experienced and truly capable actors, there was nothing lacking in the performances given.
The story is about a Harvard university journalist major (Matt, played by Elijah Wood) who is kicked out unfairly and flees to London to be with his sister. Shortly, he becomes engrossed in the world of hooliganism which American audiences learn about through Matt's experience and eyes. He is taken into the "firm" which are a bit like gangs, and experiences a brotherhood he obviously had been craving. One of the firm's members resent a "Yank" being in the group, but most of them take to him well.
The GSE firm, of which Matt has become a member, fights with an opposing firm, and much violence and heartache ensues, teaching us the lesson that even though the brotherhood is a magnet for the dispossessed, it is not to be entered into without dire consequences.
This is a movie with heart. In fact, I don't believe the violence should prevent anyone from seeing this movie, since it is overall one of the best movies I have seen in a long time, and is an emotionally engaging film. It is most likely not a good movie for children under 13 to see though.
This movie has just been picked up for limited distribution in the United States. My fondest hope is that American audiences will embrace it, and it will become the hit it deserves to be.
Thank you Odd Lot Releasing for taking this movie under your wing! By the way, this movie has been renamed "Green Street Hooligans" in the US and will be called "Green Street" in the UK.