Hooligans (2005)

Directed by: Lexi Alexander | 100 minutes | drama | Actors: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani, Marc Warren, Leo Gregory, Henry Goodman, Geoff Bell, Ross McCall, Rafe Spall, Kieran Bew

Elijah Wood as a Hooligan? The thought alone makes you laugh and a movie that tries to sell this fact will by definition be unbelievable. At least you would think so. It turns out that filmmaker Lexi Alexander comes a long way with her specific angle, which can be described as Alice in Wonderland, or little thumb in the scary, strange world of the hooligans. The cute, blue-eyed Wood is innocence itself and as such the ideal protagonist. He is the perfect layman, or “everyman” with whom the viewer can identify as he becomes acquainted with the violent but loyal hooligans.

Through Woods Matt Buckner, the viewer gets a good taste of the atmosphere in this subculture unknown to many. However, several crucial plot twists are too easy and the film ultimately follows too clearly a scenario structure that does violence to the realistic content. Especially given the riots with hooligans that the Netherlands has had to endure lately, a Hollywood approach is the last thing viewers want here, but unfortunately this is what they get. There are certainly nice points to point out – the loyalty of the hooligans, the bloodlust/fanaticism that takes hold of Buckner once he has taken a hit himself, the good sense of belonging, the courage/daring to confrontation and the self-confidence you have afterwards – are well captured, but unfortunately too much nuance is lost and the final message is slightly dubious. The story is unbelievable from all sides. When Matt’s brother-in-law immediately sends him along with his hooligan brother with orders to take him to a football game, it’s a little odd that he’s surprised that Matt comes back bruised. Or that Matt’s sister didn’t see it coming or put a stop to it. But that’s the least of the objections.

An intelligent outsider like Matt will undoubtedly find this new subculture interesting, but how believable it is that he is already cheering enthusiastically during his first game when one of them is provoking the visiting supporters. Once he’s threatened by a hostile group of hooligans and rescued by his “mates,” it’s understandable that he’ll draw to them and feel a growing loyalty, but to be so absorbed in them without intellectual reflection is slightly odd. It’s even weirder, however, that the hardcore hooligans include him so easily in the group and almost let him take a central role, with the highest word. The couple’s Judas, Bovvan, who is constantly suspicious of Matt, actually has the couple’s only truly believable attitude.

The final act of the film, where Matt’s sister Shannon (Claire Forlani) is increasingly unfolding like a typical dramatic action movie, with the usual misunderstandings with big consequences, big confrontations, and hair-raising melodrama (the way Shannon getting involved in the fight does feel very artificial). Unfortunately, the epilogue is also somewhat ambiguous in its message. Matt has learned that the hooligans can’t bring him any more positives and that he has to leave. Yet the film or director seems to want to suggest that an alliance with such a gang can indeed lead to something good. You learn to bite the bullet and to stand up for yourself and others. The characters in ‘Fight Club’ also had a positive message, which is also reflected in ‘Hooligans’ – namely that you only really live and discover yourself when you test your physical limits – but in that film there was a thick layer of irony. ‘Hooligans’ is a bit muddled in its meaning in that regard. Nevertheless, the acting is nice, especially by group leader Charlie Dunnam, and the atmosphere and this look into a violent subculture are still quite worthwhile.