Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Julian Gilbey

Writers:

Julian Gilbey (writer)
Will Gilbey (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Biography | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Rise of the Footsoldier follows the inexorable rise of Carlton Leach from one of the most feared generals...

Plot Keywords:

Criminal | Extreme Violence | Female Nudity | Female Frontal Nudity | Dog

Cast

Ricci Harnett	...	Carlton Leach
Terry Stone	...	Tony Tucker
Craig Fairbrass	...	Pat Tate
Roland Manookian	...	Craig Rolfe
Coralie Rose	...	Denny
Neil Maskell	...	Darren Nicholls
Billy Murray	...	Mickey Steele
Ian Virgo	...	Jimmy Gerenuk
Kierston Wareing	...	Kate Carter
Patrick Regis	...	Eddie
Lara Belmont	...	Karen
Emily Beecham	...	Kelly
Frank Harper	...	Jack Whomes
Jason Maza	...	Rob
Mark Killeen	...	Terry

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody/brutal violence, torture and language throughout, drug use, sexuality, and some graphic nudity.

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:18 | UK:18 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R18 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:18 | Thailand:G | USA:R | Hungary:18 | South Africa:18 | Czech Republic:18 | Canada:18A | Italy:X | Finland:K-18 | Australia:R

Filming Locations:

Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France

Company:

Carnaby International

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the rave scene, set in 1988 (again), you can spot someone wearing a 2007 season Gio-Goi T-shirt in the crowd.

Why the bad reviews?

I went to see this film the other day and although its not my type of film, I can't see why the reviews were so bad. Its very violent, very gory and has some real laugh out loud moments and in the cinema I was sitting in it had plenty of "oooo's and ahhh's" so the audience seemed to like it. Its definitely been made for the lads and is a working class film. Its not just some mickey mouse gangster film trying to imitate Lock Stock and two smoking barrels. It has similarities to Goodfellas and I think as a low budget British gangster flick it deserves to be praised for what it is. It has some amazing performances from Ricci Harnett, Terry Stone and Roland Manookian who in my opinion jointly make this film worthy of at least a 3* review and at best 4*. My advice is go and see this film and make up your own mind, don't let some upper class snob who hasn't watched this film properly and obviously has issues with the working class and the British Gangster Genre sway you from what I think is going to be a cult British film like The Football Fatory and Green Street are.