Harvard or whatever Ivy league college student ends up in London and joins the ICF or GSE in this case. It also happens to be Elijah Wood, which if your not giggling already, proves himself in the most stupid hooligans fight scene I've seen. There was some research, either a few well known books or talked to some known casuals. Pubs and train stations are the preferred ambush if no arena has been agreed. It seems like some Yank has seen this happening and made a film with US interest, which is why it fails, except on laughs.

Though arguably exaggerated for storytelling means, 'Green Street' captures the grimy, gritty and uncomfortable side to pre-match, post-game English football. Cinematography is deliberately shaky and unspectacular to emphasise this realistic approach; techniques which credibly make the film better and harder to look away as you delve into a violent underworld.Following an American Harvard drop-out (wrongly expelled for something he didn't do), Elijah Wood's protagonist travels to the UK to finally visit his sister. It isn't long before events lead him to awkwardly navigate football hooliganism and ingratiate himself in an ugly atmosphere filled with coarse language and ultra-violence thanks to Charlie Hunnam's family tie. Gradually becoming assimilated in a gang that perpetually uses coarse language, crude slang, and derogatory verbal abuse, we, as the viewer, also find ourselves trespassing in a world we don't belong (or at least shouldn't). But its brutal, bare-knuckle street fights between rival football club supporters/gangs isn't the main attraction even if that is the headlining snare to lure in movie-goers searching for a lurid experience behind the scenes of a football game. The story becomes front and centre as the second act closes and the third begins, Elijah's Wood's journalist history threatens new-found friendships, high-stakes drama looms with the threat of reveals and bloody history between the central gangs, and the film shows us humanity deep within even the most despicable of people who initially warrant little of our time as they waste theirs revelling in others misery. 'Green Street' is well-cast, toughly written, and solidly acted to tempt anyone just curious of the football hooliganism scene, even when you realise this horrible side to life is not for you, but getting out isn't as easy as just walking away. 8/10.

It is entirely possible that the original draft of the script for this film was probably quite good, but then it rather appears that some committee got hold of it. "No, you can't say that" they seem to have said "Americans would not understand it. You need to explain". Time and time again...The result is, while I could forgive the wild inaccuracies, like catching a train from Kings Cross to Manchester, or the strangely empty Blackwall Tunnel, it was the huge lumps of clanking unrealistic dialogue that, for me ruined the film.The acting is average at best, the violence dull and repetitive, the story predictable. Shame really. There was probably a good story in there once.

The film is about football violence between firms from West Ham and Milwall and has enough factual basis to make the plot remotely plausible. Unfortunately, the actor playing the lead thug, Pete, puts on an awful East End accent - nearly bad enough to make me switch off. A big shame as this takes a lot away from the film. Perhaps, for those not familiar with London accents, this may not be such an issue. (Since watching I've found that this has been a major point of criticism). It's refreshing that the story is presented without over-moralising. There is a hint of twee-ness in places but I found it to be at a level that's acceptable - after all, its a work of fiction not a pseudo- documentary. This film isn't the formulaic rubbish that is dominant now - it retains a grittiness to the end and is well worth a butchers.