Well done, but ambiguous

Rating: Null/10 (15 August 2008)

Okay, I liked this movie. Very much. Maybe as a fan of everything (well, most) things British. It even went ways I would not have foreseen : there IS one death in the end, but not the one I had foreseen, and not in the way I had predicted. Also, though highly indifferent to anything soccer so I can't tell if it's true, I liked how they showed that those hooligans are in fact functional, hold jobs, but are addicted to violence and the men bonding that results. BUT (Possible spoilers) The ending left me wondering, as it seems to be gloryfying petty, ugly violence as a way of life. Do you really learn anything from hanging with a crowd of drunken louts fighting for the most stupid reason, if they need one ? Then going into "Rumble Fish" territory with an ex-member who comes back for more ? I understand the director  who did an excellent job  is a woman and an ex-fighter. As an ex-martial arts practicionner myself who hates violence (those who tried martial arts will understand that it's not contradictory), I'd think she'd know better. And the revenge angle in the last minutes felt more like a Hollywood convention. Yes, he did not beat the crap out of the other guy, but went out with aforementioned drunken louts' hymn, for Pete's sake ! Don't know. It's a good movie, with powerful performances and a few contrievance, but I guess I liked "The football factory" better. It showed how those louts don't even need football as an excuse, crass violence is all those hooligans losers need