Powerful film with excellent acting and a lesson on the futility of violence

Rating: 9/10 (10 September 2005)

As a 57 year old woman I am hardly in the expected demographic for this film. However, I found it enjoyable and thought-provoking.
Charlie Humman's accent, widely disparaged, did not bother me after the first few lines. The acting was uniformly strong and convincing, the plot no more implausible than that of hundreds of other films. The film conveyed excitement of a football match to one who, frankly, generally finds football boring. It demonstrated the attraction and elation of the fight while forcefully making the point that the price paid is too high and that the innocent also suffer. The other point it makes is that if support is not forthcoming within the family, young people will look for it from other, possibly less desirable, sources. By the end, Matt has learnt to stand up for himself but, by using his brain, gains a more effective revenge than any physical violence could have achieved.
I found it a powerful film and emerged decidedly shaken despite the slightly upbeat ending. I would like to see it again for two reasons; to view the first half of the film in a new light in knowledge of a revelation halfway through and to observe properly all the nuances of Elijah Wood's facial expressions.