Rise of the Footsoldier

R

2007

1 hr. 59 min.

Crime

Drama

List

17%

6 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Football hooligan Carlton Leach becomes one of Great Britain's most-feared criminals.

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Audience Member

One of the better british gangster movies . Ultra violent . Good cast

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie and its many sequels shows us a group of monsters pretending to be men, they even try to elicit an emotional response when they meet their deserved demise. Yet another gangster film glorifying pointless killings and beatings, that only appeal to an audience who admire them. On a side note, would make an excellent drinking game for number of times they use the C word

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

dave j

Adapted from Carlton Leach. own personal autobiographical book of the same name from football thug to having himself get involved with 3 murders.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

) Expected the BBC and Empire Magazine to rate low a gritty film. Dont be fooled by their reviews, this film is a dark journey of hedonistic youth, paranoia, violence and chaos. It doesn't glamorise the gangster lifestyle, it more portrays it as a dangerous world to be in. Awesome film

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

r 9

Better than expected, if still not good. Based on a true story, 'Rise of the Footsoldier' is your standard London-ish gangster film - literally, given the cast. It does everything you'd predict and then some. However, it does come out more watchable than I thought it would. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it or that it's that good, but it makes for an OK watch. The casting is as obvious as possible. It features the likes of Terry Stone, Roland Manookian, Neil Maskell, Billy Murray, Kierston Wareing and Frank Harper - none of which are surprising to see, I'm more shocked Danny Dyer didn't appear. Ricci Harnett plays the lead role, he's alright. One negative, though, about this 2007 film is Harnett's Carlton, who isn't likeable whatsoever. Don't get me wrong, the characters in these sorta films are always bad people but with ones like 'Green Street Hooligans' or 'The Football Factory', there is at least a small reason to 'care' for the main character. I never did for Carlton, even at the end when it wants you to. Other negatives include the pacing, dialogue and overall story really. I will say it isn't anything that bored or irritated me, but there isn't much - if anything - that I liked either. With that said, I'm still planning to watch the three sequels.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

michael k

This was a bad ass violent gangster movie

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Julian Gilbey

Director

Ricci Harnett

Carlton Leach

Terry Stone

Tony Tucker

Craig Fairbrass

Pat Tate

Roland Manookian

Craig Rolfe

Frank Harper

Jack Whomes

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Catherine Chambers

BBC.com

Footsoldier doesn't so much pack a punch as leave you feeling violated and more importantly, robs you of two hours of your life you won't get back.

Rated: 1/5

Sep 7, 2007

Full Review

David Jenkins

Time Out

The direction smacks of sadism, especially the obvious glee Gilbey gets from filming violent scenes in close-up and, in the case of the bloody shotgun-to-the-face denouement, in triplicate.

Rated: 1/6

Sep 7, 2007

Full Review

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

A peculiar but decidedly ordinary addition to the British thug genre.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 7, 2007

Full Review

David Edwards

Daily Mirror (UK)

Fans of British geezer films would be better off checking out I.D. - this is best enjoyed after a night at the pub on DVD.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 7, 2007

Full Review

Jamie Russell

Total Film

The filmmakers' wide-eyed attempt to turn Leach into a living legend will probably rattle Daily Mail readers' cages; everyone else may find its stonking hard-on for real-life hard men slightly ludicrous.

Rated: 1/5

Sep 7, 2007

Full Review

Tim Evans

One People's Project

Gore-flecked rucks and bruising rumbles are the order of the day in this unflinching portrait of a demi-monde your really rather wish would stay that way.

Rated: 1/5

Sep 7, 2007

Full Review

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Synopsis

Football hooligan Carlton Leach becomes one of Great Britain's most-feared criminals.

Director: Julian Gilbey
Executive Producer: Andrew Loveday, Terry Loveday, Billy Murray, Toby Richards, Terry Stone
Screenwriter: Julian Gilbey, William Gilbey
Production Co: Carnaby International, Hanover Films
Rating: R (Torture|Language Throughout|Drug Use|Strong Brutal Violence|Sexuality|Some Graphic Nudity|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2010

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