The Firm (1988)

[Cohaagen]

Another sleazy masterpiece from the lobes of this country's finest director of the 80s, Alan Clarke.

Perhaps the definitive film about football violence (one was probably enough, actually) and featuring, among other things:

• Gary Oldman going bananas for a full action-packed 70 minutes
  
• Phil Davis as a slick-haired, 80s-shades-wearing ganglord named "The Yeti"
  
• In a possible nod to Manny Fraker, Gary Oldman calling up Davis and gently insisting that he is going to "fillet" him, whilst his infant son sucks on a stanley knife nearby
  
• Jim McDonald from Coronation Street rushing into a pub with a hammer in each hand and twatting at least 20 people
  
• Phil Mitchell popping up as an obnoxious ageing bovver boy
  
• A tinted casual checking himself into hospital for emergency plastic surgery under the name "Michael Jackson"
  
• More shellsuits, white socks, slip-on tassel loafers, Farah slacks and moustaches (including Oldman's rat-lipped masterwork) than anyone would need in a lifetime
  

Buy it now, or I'll fillet ya'.

[Jack Burton]

I've been trying to track this one down for a while.

I'm a massive football fan and am quite involved with my local football club, so I always enjoy these football culture films.

I've heard good things about "The Firm" but it's near impossible to find here in Australia.

I've watched the other major hooligan films: "I.D.", "Football Factory" and "Green Street Hooligans" and none of them quite hit the mark for me.

"I.D." was a bit too poorly produced for my liking.

"Football Factory" was trying to be too artsy for a film that was dealing with a pretty raw and violent subject.

"Green Street Hooligans" was easily the best produced of the three, but was a little too Americanised, I thought.

[Cohaagen]

Both Green Street and Football Factory are a bag of shite. Strictly for aggro completists. I.D. was in fact directed by Phil "Philip" Davis, aka The Yeti from The Firm. I've got a lot of time for I.D. - I found it really unsettling and sordid, perfect atmosphere for late 80s Britain actually. The Firm, however, is better than all of them put together, particularly impressive given that it only has just over an hour in which to make its mark. Alan Clarke was by this point a master of the steadicam and tracking shot, perhaps the best practitioner in the world at the time, and The Firm is full of great lingering shots. Check out his masterpiece, Elephant, which is on Youtube in its entirety.

Here's a sample of the genius that awaits you as part of The Firm:

youtube.com/watch?v=DXLuaKgHV2U

[Wildey]

I have friends who consider Football Factory and Green Street to be the be all and end all of cinema. Of course they are more into football than films, so I can understand the former but Green Street... Elijah Wood as a hooligan for fucks sake!

[Lord Chenney]

being a big west ham fan, ive been to the actual green street a few times. real savoury place, and a mecca for kebab connoisseurs. i was once in a pub there and a guy was wandering around with a sports bag full of videos trying to sell them for £10 a go. they had knocked up black and white photocopied covers and supposedly were compilations of cctv footage of the local firm and its jolly adventures on the turf of other, less righteous firms. it included the infamous trip a few years ago, when a load of guys from said firm hired a coach and took a trip to Cardiff v (i think it was) Brentford. just so they could have a 'surprise' ruck with the Cardiff fans. pubs were laid to waste. several arrests were made. needless to say i didnt buy a VHS off the guy.

anyway - i don't think elijah wood would have fit in too well. even if he'd gotten all 'method' on us. i will never watch green street, i havent seen football factory, but ID is not a bad film. its good to see billy from eastenders getting all jason statham.

i havent seen the firm. i didnt even know it existed, but like edge of darkness (Which was phenomenal btw), i will be checking it out. cos im right geeez.

[Will Da Beeste]

The Firm is decent, but not Clarke's best. Still, it is streets ahead of any other football themed flicks because it is really about Thatcherite demolition of society not just a gloating celebration of gangs of wankers talking shit in pubs.

The others are strictly for the educationally subnormal who want to belong to something they haven't earned. Generally, hardcore football fans are fucking sheep, who think that shouting about other people's efforts makes them their own.

Fucking losers - I'll shit 'em!

[Cohaagen]

I wouldn't describe The Firm as Clarke's finest - I think either Elephant or Scum deserve that - but it is still a terrific film, and a reminder that excellent one-off original teleplays were once standard fare on British TV.

You will love it, Chen, especially since Oldman's ICC are based on West Ham's Inter City Firm...as seen in the clip, Gazza's room is plastered in 'ammers memorabilia. I hate football as a rule, but I can't get enough of Clarke.

Here's his masterpiece, Elephant - possibly the most violent film ever produced - in its entirety:

Part 1
youtube.com/watch?v=WRo8Jbaoik0

Part 2
youtube.com/watch?v=3WCCX50f5_Q

Part 3
youtube.com/watch?v=5eVqyCg0e-c

Part 4
youtube.com/watch?v=G637fjF3LeY

Hard to believe this was the same man who directed Rita, Sue & Bob Too!

By the way, what did you think of Edge of Darkness? Any favourite bits?

[shaun]

It's a good flick, but I rank I.D just above it, has some amusing lines, not to mention loads of stars from Eastenders ;D


"Fucking love you Gumbo"