Green Street | Review

First of all, you may be wondering why I have chosen to review a 15 year old movie; 'you're a bit late to the scene lad'. I wasn't intending on giving my honest opinion of this 2005 'classic' until I read a few reviews from predominantly American sites. I felt many of them fail to serve justice on this production. I felt many were focused on some insignificant flaws and distracted from the key messages of Green Street. I like to think that in this review I shall cast my gavel of honesty and bluntness and set the record straight for this piece of cinematography. I warn that there will be spoilers so if in 15 years since it's release you haven't watched the film, I strongly advise you hop on Netflix immediately.

 In summary, the story follows Frodo Baggins, I mean Matt Buckner (played by Elijah Wood) as he gets expelled from Harvard to cover for a wealthy and powerful  Jeremy Van Holden (Terence Jay), with the promise of his return to finish his degree in journalism or some form of compensation as a reward. Matt flies over the pond to live wih his sister, Shannon (Claire Forlani), and her husband Steve Dunham (Marc Warren). Matt is soon introduced to the 'Top Boy' of Green Street Elite (the Firm of West Ham United), Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam) . Pete reluctantly brings Matt to the game after Steve insists and conflict leads to the duo growing closer together and Matt channelling his inner 'thug'. As the couple become friends over the next few weeks, Bovver (Leo Gregory), Pete's right hand man and enforcer of the firm grows jealous of the two and his loyalty begins to waiver. Approaching the big derby with Milwall, Bovver betrays the GSE after believing Matt to be working undercover for the Times and discloses the location of Stevie Dunham to Tommy Hatcher (Geoff Bell). Hatcher holds Stevie (the former Major of the GSE) accountable for the death of his 12 year old son. Stevie is hospitalised after Hatcher brutally stabs him and Bovver is exiled by Pete. In the final scene, the two firms clash and Bovver gains redemption by protecting Stevie's wife from the Milwall gang. In a gripping climax Pete sacrifices himself to allow Shannon to escape as Hatcher is about to make his move and get vengeance for the death of his son. After all this, Matt returns to the US and blackmails Van Holden to get him back into Harvard.

The film explores a variety of themes, namely loyalty, honour, valour and love, but not in a typical Hollywood style. There is evidently a creed of honour, respect and loyalty within the GSE. This camaraderie is unspoken for most of the film and is taken as mandatory until Bovver completely disregards this code. Rarely have I seen a film portray this kind of relationship as accurately as this film does. Similarly to real life, the appreciation of one and other within the firm is unspoken but to the viewer can be seen from afar. The Green Street Elite not only enables the group of men to unleash any violent tendencies and support the Hammers but more importantly gives each member a sense of purpose and belonging in the world. The absence of this feeling is present when we see Bovver isolated on the park bench. Without the GSE, Bovver felt unfulfilled in life and an air of despondency and depression loomed overhead. The love for one and other is seen at the end as we get a poignant image of Bovver holding the battered, deceased Pete in his arms.

I'm not going to sugar coat anything and this movie definitely has its flaws. First of all, the accent of Pete (Charlie Hunnam) can become an ear-soar after awhile. The Northerner tries to conceal his peculiar accent throughout but for me his failure to depict an East-Londoner really taints some key scenes and shifted my focus from vital dialogue. I've seen many reviewers criticize the casting of Elijah for the role of Matt but personally I believe he suits the role to a tee. The character he plays transforms greatly in the film. He starts off as the seemingly innocent and hapless Harvard boy and finishes as a streetwise man. Leo Gregory does an incredible job as Bovver and his character is the most complex and challenged of all in the film.

 I think the fight scenes in the movie are portrayed to an acceptable standard; I've most certainly seen better and more realistic encounters in films but on the other hand I've seen worse. Credit where it's due, the director Lexi Alexander creates moments of palpable tension and a credible atmosphere in London. The only real criticism I have is that if Tommy Hatcher really wanted to harm Stevie Dunham to the extent that he did, surely he could have utilized contacts to get to him and his family. The fact that he goes from ignoring Stevie for years to putting Stevie in hospital and killing his brother with the intentions of doing the same to his wife at the end doesn't stack up in my brain. I am open to hearing any reason you may have.

Ultimately, Green Street Elite is a decent film. Clearly the producers thought so and made 2 sequels which I haven't and don't plan on viewing (unless there is demand). I think this work provides an intriguing insight into relationships between men and their interdependence on one and other. I would highly recommend this film to anyone. Having said that, it's no masterpiece so I would rate it a 71/100

Top Boy: Summerhouse | Review |

One of the very few silver linings to this dark cloud of despondency, known as Covid-19, is the amount of spare time available to binge-watch the Netflix streaming service. In the past 2 and a bit months, I've spent countless hours on the site; watching films, series and documentaries. In this mini-series of articles, I wish to rank these shows according to my preference. As a disclaimer, I should mention I have previously watched all 5 seasons of Breaking Bad so therefore this show is exempt from these writings.

 6. Top Boy: Summerhouse: Coming in at 6th place is Top Boy: Summerhouse. I refrain from calling this 'last place' because I feel this show deserves credit where it's due. For those of you who are unaware, Top Boy: Summerhouse or 'the original' Top Boy was created in 2011 by Channel 4 and broadcast over 4 nights in late October. The series lasted 2 seasons and had a grand total of 8 episodes. The series was later revived by popular rapper Drake and this show subsequently adopted the name Top Boy: Summerhouse. I'm not going to lie, I had to research this after watching one episode and wondering when the iconic Dave was going to make an appearance, only to discover he features in the new series.

 Summerhouse is the central location of this series; a block of flats at the heart of a gang run by Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane Robinson). A 15-year-old Ra'nell (Malcolm Kamulete) resides in one of the flats in Summerhouse and the story follows his struggles and strife in life; such as his unwell mother (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), his relationship with his best mate Gem (Giacomo Mancini), his involvement with his mother's friend's cannabis crop, and his resistance to joining the local conformity of Dushane's gang. The central focus of this series is Dushane and Sully's path to the top and the conflict that arises with each step forward. With the help of the 'enforcer' Dris (Shone Romulus), the couple rise through the ranks of the London drug trade. In season 2, arrests lead to great moments of tension and pressure on the nearly estranged 'business associates' as well as the 12-year-old Michael (Xavien Russell).

 One of my biggest issues with this show is it's lack of focus in the opening season. As a consumer of the first season, I didn't know who I was supposed to treat as the main character. The show gave plenty of focus to Ra'nell but then as season 2 began, his story dwindled drastically as he began to escape the standards set by the gang in his area. I don't understand why the season really zoned in on him and his relationship with his mother as well as Leon (Nicholas Pinnock) and then they completely wasted all the minutes and hours of character development in season 2 as his story reached a vapid conclusion.

 I have to admit, the atmosphere created in this series is depicts the streets of London masterfully and enforces the lack of opportunity or hope for it's residents as they become cogs in the great contraption of crime. This can be seen in season 2 as Ra'nell doesn't succeed in his trials (sorry, spoiler alert) and as pressure grows on his mother at the salon and Gem's father at the chipper. I thought one of the character's I felt most connected to was Gem, surprisingly. A real 'gem' in this show, if you will. His innocence and attachment to his dog can be related to massively by anyone and when blackmailed by Vincent, you can feel the despair germinating inside him and we also share the relief as the problem is resolved.

 This 'prequel' instills feelings for the main characters of the new series. Dushane is revealed to have been raised by a single mother as his father walks the streets with his new family and a broad smile plastered on his face. His failed relationship with the lawyer emphasizes his prioritisation of his work ahead of his relationships with others. Sully, on the other hand, is a father but develops a father-like bond with Jason (Ricky Smarts) and this bond is enhanced in the new series.

 In its essence, the show feels like a prequel to the 2019 Top Boy, despite it's latest season being produced 6 years prior to the former. In my opinion, the conclusion to season 2 leaves the viewer with much to chew on and desiring answers to burning questions (a brilliant, nail-biting finale). I don't want to spoil the ending for any keen spectators but anyone who has finished the series in its entirety will know what I mean. Perhaps if renewed, we would have gotten these answers from Channel 4 but I think the new version is superior to the original in most conceivable ways.

 I believe Top Boy: Summerhouse is a necessity before watching the latest installments and it forms the foundations of our relationships with Dushane, Sully and Dris. I would give the show a 78/100
Next week I will present my 5th favourite series.