Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)

Trivia
In the coach scene at beginning of the film you can see the real Carlton Leach and in the gym lifting weights

Goofs
In the rave scene, set in 1988.. there are multiple posters advertising "Happy Hardcore". Happy Hardcore wasn't around in 1988, it wasn't until between 1991-1993 that rave music evolved in to Happy Hardcore.

Quotes
[first lines]
Carlton Leach: It was the end of an era. But before the murders, the torture, the beatings and the ecstacy... before all of that, there was football. You see, football was where all the spite and the hatred first came from. On those terraces... well, it's where it all began for me.

Alternate versions
The German version is cut for violence by approx 5 minutes in order to secure the "Not under 18" rating from the FSK. An uncut German release would later be released with SPIO/JK approval.

Connections
Featured in Britain's Underworld: Essex Bad Boys (2011)

Soundtracks
Run Run Run
Written by Andes / Ferguson
Published by Rondor Music London Ltd
Version by The River

Woo, this is one violent film (and i like that sort of thing) but be warned. Ill admit i automatically (flinched) looked away at one scene and i have seen some pretty horrific videos and not been moved.Pizza anyone!

Aside from this the film portrays the thugs fairly accurately. It may seem over the top too some but this is just what life was like in the peak days of football violence in Britain. As someone who has lived in a football obsessed city surrounded by football casuals and witnessed running street battles i thought the fight scenes were very well done. if your unlucky enough to see this type of thing in real life then you will realise just how scary they can be.

Shocked me as much as The Firm (Gary Oldman one) did although with The Firm i felt slightly for the characters (peer pressure, vulnerabilities etc) but with this film i had no sympathy whats so ever for the players in this story. Basically their a bunch of nutters that got what they deserve :)

Remember this is based on an true account of the time and is severely brutal with savage characters and moments. This was and still is life for some people. Avoid if you cannot handle the brutality of real life.