Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #533 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-12-26
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 114 minutes

Synopsis
RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER charts the rapid rise of Carlton Leach, from feared football hooligan to him becoming a member of one of the country's most notorious crime syndicates. Following his life over the course of three decades, the film follows Leach's career from soccer thug, through a stint as a doorman and his involvement in the early rave scene, right through to his nadir as an integral part of a gang that ruled London and Essex during the late 80s and early 90s and would culminate in the infamous shotgun deaths of three of the firm's members in Rettendon.

Customer Reviews

A Cracker.
If you are thinking about buying the film only version, think again. Buy this 2 DVD set because it's money well spent. Not only is the main film a masterpiece but the bonus disc is worth it for the behind the scenes action. My favourite character in this movie is Tony Tucker played by Terry Stone. With his blonde wig and menacing jawline this thug will eat you up and make you laugh. Just watch his audition sequence with the turk on the bonus disc!!! It's unusual for me to praise anything new from the film industry. I'm still stuck in the days of Villain, Robbery and The Sweeney. But this film with its menacing looking cast and two brilliant directors have held my attention throughout the whole movie and indeed the bonus disc. Take it from me folks, if this film entertains me its worth buying. Gilbey brothers you are what the film industry has been waiting for. I'm going to source out your other films now.

Fantastic Film
I loved this film, I am not literate like the other reviewers I have read, but this is one of the best films I have ever seen. It is very violent and really down to earth, I cant stop thinking about it. I have told all my friends to watch it...... Well worth a look

ULTRA VIOLENT!!! READ ON...
Past years have seen one or two football violence related movies; The Football Factory, Green Street, together with numerous hardcore violent British Gangster flicks; Gangster No.1, The Business, Layer Cake etc.
This film, partially based on 1995 true events, melds these two genres together to form a critical mass!
There's no getting away, that this is a shocking & at times disturbing film. The football hooligan scenes are even more violent than either Green Street or Football Factory (Once again, West Ham v Millwall), and as we move into Gangland waters, there are scenes of torture that rival either of the Hostel movies! People are stabbed, bitten, beaten & there's some very graphic gunplay. Oh, lest we forget - fingers hacked off, teeth pulled out with pliers and an all over crucifixion! The only film of it's type to rival these shocking scenes is the horrifying Gangster No.1!
It's also completeley foul-mouthed from start to finish - with the now customary excessive use of the C-word.
Also, there's some very scantily dressed ladies on show, usually draped across Craig Fairbrass (who seems to revel in the role of loose cannon Pat Tate).
I can almost guarantee the appeal of this to many people - I enjoyed it - All of us like to look at the dark side of life, but this is a world that 99.9% of us would never want to experience!
It's well directed, with capable performances all around. Parallels could be drawn between central performer Ricci Harnett as the infamous ICF General/organised criminal, Carlton Leach & Ray Liotta's acclaimed performance in Goodfellas. I'm not saying the quality is the same but Scorsese's film has clearly inspired. As in Football Factory, Gangster No.1 etc, we have the voice over throughout the film, and it's one of the better examples.
I really liked the cinematography & the editing - far less of the 'music video' feel that often blights many Brit films at the moment!
And how can you knock a movie that gives us football punch ups to the sound of Motorhead's We Are The Road Crew!!
I have to say I thought it was a better movie than Nick Love's Outlaw which had the potential to be so much more.
This is just a good film to have some mates around, crack open a few cans and see who looks away first!
Definiteley not one for the girlfriends...