The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan (2012)

Since i have slagged off Press on Features considerably in my previous reviews, i feel i should make it clear for clarity's sake that not all of their output has been drab and vanilla waste as i've hinted at previously. Look no further than at what i guess what you could call their most iconic release, a Poundland staple, Rise and Fall of a White Collar Hooligan. Released at a time when both the gangland and Hooligan genres were in decline, this film combined the two, cleverly, admittedly, as a way to pick up the scraps of niche interest left over from the early 2000's. The result was an exploitation (and not the last one) of a true life account of a credit card fraudster with an "oh so indeed" frustratingly misleading title slapped on and the new wave of low budget Brit crime cinema crashed into our supermarkets. The Hooligangster film had arrived and has not left since. So, enough history, how's the film itself? Not bad. The quintessential low budget DV-era crime film. It has a clear idea of what it is and rarely bandies about with bringing the goods, all budgetary restrictions considered. Nick Nevern serves well as the small fish, big pond hood and is additionally served well by a good supporting turn by Simon Phillips and a well-balanced script that never struggles for politicisation and instead settles with sympathy for our protagonists.The clue is in the title. They are just atypical white collar guys, like the intended audience, who happen to embark on this underworld odyssey. There is really not a bad turn in this by anyone in this really. Unadventurous or safe yes, but never disastrous or insipid. It's a story that keeps your interest despite lacking the bombast of the more notable entries it apes consistently throughout the running time. Is it the best of it's kind? Maybe. Taking into consideration that it spawned a trilogy of steady quality, it's hard to argue anything of it's kind matches it in success. But with the increasingly ambitious (and enjoyable) works of the likes of Nicholas Winter and Terry Lee Coker upcoming, it might be only a matter of time before a new style establishes itself and closes over this fine ride of austerity era gangster fantasy.

im a huge fan of British gangster movies, especially the gritty one's like 'rise of the footsoldier' 'bonded by blood' 'the crew' 'clubbed' and 'the take', and although this movie isn't as good as any of them, its still a well made, and very enjoyable gangster movie, now anybody expecting a football hooligan film, will be very disappointed, as there is none here, a couple of scenes at the beginning, this is really more like 'rise of the footsoldier' in that it's one man's descent into the murky life of gangland, and the bad that comes with that. at 80 minutes long, its certainly not an epic, but the story is well told and the film well made, the cast are good enough, and the soundtrack is good too, the movie is quite violent at times, but nothing that compares to 'footsoldier' and 'bonded by blood'. i cant wait for there new film ' the fall of the essex boys' as they certainly know how to craft a good gangland thriller.

I quite liked this, it had a dark feel to it which reminded me of other films in this kind of genre. The problem i had was that the characters did not just fit - is this guy a footy hooligan, loving boyfriend or loathsome fraudster. Yes, i guess you could say all 3 but honestly...? i don't think they pulled it off, same applies for his 'supervisor' - really?When the gang lord (Guvnor, boss, top man we are told)gives him a gun he does not blink, but later he moans he has never needed a gun nor used one and it frightened him - seemed quick enough to slid it in the back of his trousers first time though without a hitch or thought (surely anyone who has never held a gun would say remark how heavy they are??)Aspects of the film were very clichéd particularly the dialogue, do gangsters really speak to each like that, i have no idea, but it must get boring quick if they do...Overall, worth a watch but don't expect Snatch or something as this is not that, it stands up well but ultimately heads into well travelled land.The footy film is a weak link at best, it defo plays second fiddle to the credit card fraud. Maybe the title needs a change? I could barely see the link (again characters did not fit for me)6/10 for me.

I admit it, I'm not exactly the biggest football fan out there. So, when I sat down to watch this film I wasn't expecting it to be my cup of tea, but I couldn't have been more wrong. WHITE COLLAR HOOLIGAN is a brilliant crime thriller that, I thought, was very well made. The directing and acting here are equally excellent and really keeps you hooked to the screen. All the characters are highly believable and you'll no doubt find yourself empathising with them as things just keep getting worse and worse.I can recommend this movie not just to football fans - the film's obvious audience - but also those, like myself, who enjoy the rush of a great crime thriller. Lots of swearing, violence and drama. Great stuff!