Rise Of The FootSoldier

 Review: Rise of the Footsoldier (2007)

Genre: Crime/Biographical Drama Director: Julian Gilbey Verdict: A brutal, unapologetic, and undeniably gritty cult classic that favors raw visceral impact over narrative polish.

The Premise

Rise of the Footsoldier tracks the life and descent of Carlton Leach, a notorious football hooligan who transitions into the world of professional security and, eventually, organized crime. It spans decades, culminating in the infamous 1995 Rettendon murders—the execution-style killing of three drug dealers in a Range Rover in Essex.

The Good: Relentless Intensity

If you go into this movie expecting a polished Hollywood production, you are in the wrong place. The film is intentionally rough around the edges, which actually serves the subject matter well.

The Transformation: Ricci Harnett’s portrayal of Carlton Leach is the anchor of the film. He successfully navigates the character’s evolution from a thrill-seeking thug into a cold-blooded operator. You feel the weight of his paranoia and the desensitization that comes with the lifestyle.

The "Hooligan" Era: The first act, which focuses on the visceral, chaotic world of 1980s football terrace violence, is arguably the best part of the film. It captures the tribalism and adrenaline-fueled brutality of that era with unflinching detail. It doesn’t romanticize the violence; it makes it look exhausting, nasty, and terrifying.

Atmosphere: The film carries a gritty, low-budget British aesthetic that feels authentic to the Essex underworld. It feels claustrophobic and dirty, which mirrors the moral decay of the characters on screen.

The Mixed: Pacing and Narrative

The Third Act Shift: The film undergoes a massive tonal shift when it leaves the football terraces and moves into the drug-fueled underworld of Essex. While this is necessary for the plot, the pacing drags in the middle. The transition from "hooliganism" to "gangsterism" feels disjointed, and the film struggles to maintain its momentum as it introduces a revolving door of secondary characters.

Stylistic Choices: Director Julian Gilbey uses a lot of rapid cutting and "edgy" cinematography that was popular in the late 2000s. While it creates a sense of chaos, it can occasionally feel like a music video rather than a narrative film, sometimes undermining the dramatic weight of the more serious scenes.

The Bad: Morality vs. Exploitation

The "Glamorization" Debate: The film has been criticized for being a "geezer-fest" that glorifies figures who were, in reality, violent criminals. While the film doesn't necessarily present them as heroes, it certainly presents them as the "coolest guys in the room." If you are sensitive to extreme violence, sexual violence, or misogynistic dialogue, this film will be an incredibly difficult watch. It is intentionally provocative and offensive.

Final Thoughts

Rise of the Footsoldier is not a "good" film in the traditional sense of high-brow cinema. It is a loud, aggressive, and deeply violent descent into a very dark corner of British history.

However, as a piece of crime cinema, it succeeds in being memorable. It captures a specific brand of British masculine toxicity, greed, and eventual self-destruction better than almost any other film in its genre. If you enjoy films like The Business, Green Street, or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels—but prefer them much darker and significantly more violent—this is essential viewing.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars.

Watch it if: You enjoy gritty British crime dramas and aren't easily offended by depictions of extreme violence. Skip it if: You prefer a film with a clear moral compass or are looking for a sophisticated, character-driven psychological study.