Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9011 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

Another superb gutsy British film
This film is what it is a true reflection of the underworld violence and criminal activities of this nation, and anybody that don't believe what goes on need to get a reality check and watch this film. The acting the story was superb nothing short of brilliance for the film industry of this country. I can except that this is not everybody's cup of tea but I thought it was totally brilliant. This film kept me on the edge of my seat through out the 2 hours of film which felt like 2 minutes in my opinion this is a must see film. Well Done again to the british film industry and i salute you

Absolutely Shocking!
This is one of the best films I've seen for ages, although the first 20 minutes or so made me feel rather nauseous I really got into it (after realising this was all I was going to get throughout the whole film)!! Great acting, great true storyline, couldn't knock it, I just wished the story went further once the Range Rover murders happened - would liked to have seen more on that, who the gunmen were. Watch this film, you won't be disappointed.

"When coke deals go bad..."
Let's face it; Reservoir Dogs wasn't so much a movie about a diamond heist gone wrong as it was about a gang of actors that wanted to be Lee Marvin. Rise of the Footsoldier (Released 7th of September) is nothing more or less than a bunch of Scorsese fanatics who wished they'd been in Goodfellas - and be fair, who wouldn't?

`Footsoldier' is a gangster film - pure and simple. "Professional" Football hooligans the I.C.F (Inner City Firm) have met their nemesis with a spate of high profile arrests. With the emergence of the `rave' scene of the late 80's they recognise the lucre generating possibilities of the new counter culture; get `loved up', `steam' the groovy train and swap their Stanley knives and knuckle dusters for smiley T. Shirts, Kickers and eh... shotguns. Quickly establishing themselves as major `faces' in the Essex underworld, it isn't long before these Knights of the glass table are running their cocaine Camelot through a gamut of girls, guns and high friends in dangerous places.

Based on a real life1995 `hit' which rendered three of those `face's blown off at a secluded dirt track in Retterdon, the cinematic possibilities of what is now known as `The Range Rover Killings' has not been lost on movie land. The semi fictional Essex Boys (2000) took its cue from this pivotal event in gangland history but `Footsoldier' is a more authentic account, retaining the facts and the actual characters as recounted in `Muscle', the book written by one of the surviving members of the gang Carlton Leach, played here by a shark eyed Ricci Harnett.

`Footsoldier' also boasts an impressive array of T.V tough guys including Ex-Eastender's Bill Murray and Craig Fairbrass, whose soap appearances had hitherto had me scrambling for the off switch. Both are excellent here, with Murray exuding menace from every pore and Fairbrass chillingly convincing as the `roid' crazed Pat Tate. Mover and shaker Terry Stone has a face that suggests all the members of the Clash at once and follows his impressive turn in Gilby's last movie, the very excellent `Rollin' With The Nines' as Tony Tucker; a one man swear-a-thon sporting a syrup that looked liked it could have been a stunt double for Dougal in the Magic Roundabout.

Brandishing its Scorsese-isms loudly and proudly (sweeping crane shots, freeze frame voice overs etc) `Footsoldier' is no `feel good' film by any stretch. But there is much to enjoy from watching these guys `go ta woik' in a similar, but darker fashion to ensemble piece `Love, Honour & Obey' (Was I the only one that liked that film?!) or the aforementioned Reservoir Dogs. Perhaps not quite dislodging any of the unholy trinity of Get Carter, Brighton Rock and The Long Good Friday from their lofty throne, Rise of the Foot Soldier doesn't let up for a second and holds its own as a `balls out', `in yer face' thrill ride, and certainly a worthy addition to the `Grit Brit' gangster pantheon.

Adrian Stranik