The One Where I Don't *Get* Football Violence

I HEART LOVE FILM

So. The Firm.

I'm not going to lie and say I have fond memories of the original. I saw it last year, and thought it had aged.  This, another remake, is passable. It's the sort of film I would have picked up half price on Blu Ray - so, it's more proof that Love Film is good value for me.

I liked it. Don't get me wrong. But... I guess there was something missing. I know what that something was. I'm just uncomfortable with why I felt it made the film weaker, for it not being there...

@hadynpasco and @Girl_In_a_Box and I got talking.

Seemingly about football violence in general. Sassy and hubby really liked it - for the clothes, for the sound track, the nostalgia. I get that. It gives all of those things in spades.

This is controversial, but I've always thought Football Factory was a great film. Really underrated. Every hooligan film I see since then, always pales. I like it because I watch it as a black comedy. Everything about it, is so off the wall, so ludicrous, it's funny.

Definitely not safe for work, or for the easily offended!

This is by Nick Love, who made that film. It has the same style, but what surprised me, was that it seemed like a step backwards. Certainly in terms of violence. I guess you could then assume it's a better film - that Love has learnt to put the story first.

I'll ponder that, because it may well be true.

What is true... and puzzling, is why I'm interested in football violence.

I've never been in a fight in my life. I've been punched a few time, once a severe kicking - but never punched. So it's not the scrapping.

I think it's the idea of groups, firms, fighting each other - in some sort of demented loyalty to their club.

I wasn't really aware of how bad things were in the 80s. I know it still goes on now. Anyone that's been to a game, and been in a minority will know how intimidating that can be.

Seriously. WTF? I don't get it. Look at the comments below it, too. Vile. Even the video is glamourised, with the music. It's seemingly all about image, and verve.

For me, the best scene to sum this up was the opening fight. 200 odd men, running into one police van. Panicking, because the other firm hasn't shown up. Then. A Noise. The other firm. Try as they might, the Police can do nothing. It's a bizarre, tribal sight. Men in uniforms fighting - but a million miles away from a battle field.

It's nothing to do with Football. But try telling them that.

In a movie sense this has all been done before, and with out football, too.

Its essentially a remake of The Warriors. A great film - that as a kid I remember being fascinated by Dads VHS. Tribal warfare.

"Warriors... Come out to plaaaaaaaay" Now if anything was due a remake...

Rival gangs. The bits in between is just filler - and that's why I found it strange that Love chose to focus on the story. It's not really about football violence at all. That just simmers underneath.

It's about idolising someone. Being obsessed with them Wanting to be them. Then being disappointed. realising that your parents were right, and you should never have gone with them in the first place.

It's been around for years, in loads of different incarnations.

The film is pacey, and knows what it is. It plays to it's strengths, and the acting is vastly superior to Green Street. Some of the characters are miscast. The lead role of Callum could really have done with being someone a bit more believable. I liked Bex, though. Hardly Gary Oldman, but who is?

Great casting would have been Leo as Callum, and Daniel Day-Lewis as Bex. Oh... that reminds me...

"I took the father, now I'll take the son"

Cheers for reading as ever. If you haven't already, please vote top left. Al Pacino v De Niro. In a true heavyweight fight.

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