A Case For Better Action Movies: GREEN STREET HOOLIGANS: UNDERGROUND (2013)

To date, I haven’t seen either Lexi Alexander’s or Jesse V. Johnson’s previous installations of the Green Street franchise, and in that regard, it might service you to see those films before moving onto director James Nunn‘s 2014 offering, Green Street Hooligans: Underground. Granted, it’s only an option and not hugely necessary, and opinions might differ depending on how geared you are toward the first film, but this particular movie does plenty more for the kind of film it’s meant to be, apart from whatever expectations there may have been.

In the film, the Green Street Elite firm is one in many football-emboldened cliques in a sub-culture of English society that has since been outlawed with its resolve now quartered to sectioned-off areas away from public eyes. Bets are placed, faces are smashed and bloodied, teeth are chipped, egos are bruised and many a drink are drunk – such was once the instance for former GSE Governor-turned-gym owner, Danny (Scott Adkins), who has since strayed away from life in West Ham in search of a healthier path, and much to the chagrin of his younger brother, Joey (Billy Cook), who meets his unfortunate end when a post-game underground brawl takes his life. Alas, long after his departure Danny heads back to West Ham where the Green Street Elite are now the underdog group in the hooligan fighting circuit as he’s now forced to come to terms with his rediscovered obligation to see GSE and that of his newfound love interest, tough-as-nails pub runner Molly (Kacey Barnfield), all while doing what he can with former Hooligan-turned-cop Victor (Joey Ansah) to find Joey’s killer. Amidst it all, loyalty is tested and alliances are questioned, and when the final bell rings, the lines of justice will be drawn once and for all.

With all the titles there are in Adkins’s resumé right now, a lot has been said by many a fan of his movies, and much of it with great praise and acclaim. I have to say though, Green Street Hooligans: Underground is definitely one that offers much more to the table for Adkins in a leading role, and in the millieu of English society at that. It is quite comforting to not have to see Adkins force his way into sounding “American” as he’s had to in several films (there’s at least one exception there), and it allows you to observe him in a more convincing portrayal with other characters on screen. Adkins shares different traits to his persona, and not just that of a one-note tough guy too moody to crack a smile while still delivering the usual stellar screenfighting athleticism he’s known for.

Embodying the story of Danny’s search for vengenace are a small, nifty group of key characters, and none of whom are excess; Actress Kacey Barnfield does wonders as Molly, balancing things out just nicely in a role that doesn’t underhand itself amid a cast that mostly consists of an all-male roster. Actor Jack Doolan carries the film greatly between its first and second act as Gilly, Joey’s close friend and the remnants of GSE leadership in its downtrodden state, while actor Mark Wingett serves as the grizzled backbone of this story with more innovative uses of the word ‘fuck’ than one might expect.

Martial artist and actor Spencer Wilding takes on as Derek, the brooding and venomous leader of the Millwall club, and he’s one who no one really needs to doubt in terms of the antagonizing danger he poses in both size and stamina. Needless to say, he’s a big guy who can fight, and delivers a proper villain well suited as an opposite for Adkins. We also meet actor and martial artist Joey Ansah in the role of Victor, a troubled cop desperate for the truth and forced to work with very little, which, and bearing the latter in mind with a smidget of irony to boot, is something to bear in mind as Ansah wore several hats on this particular project, including as the principle fight choreographer.

The overall vision of this particular non-sequitur of the Green Street franchise is one that deserves a curve. Aside from noting the choice of Adkins in the lead role, the film provides martial arts as an individual backdrop for the remainder of the story to build on, apart from an unconnected trilogy more drama-infused with a fighting theme focused on basic knuckle brawling in massive numbers. As per the story based on Ronnie Thompson’s script, we see our title characters in training for the film’s thematic action relative to underground fighting in preparation to take on other rival gangs with members trained in various fighting methods, which is useful for a film of this nature despite what some critics might have claimed.

This, on top of the film’s limited budget of £250,000 (close to $380,000 USD) with an enlistment of MANY extras who worked for free under Ansah‘s watch, two weeks of action rehearsal and a grueling final fight filmed in minus-five degree weather at night also says a lot about the work ethic executed here when it comes to a cast and crew as dedicated as this one. The massive action sequences, designed and edited by Ansah in conjunction with the cinematography and editing are all top-notch and never interferes with what the film tries to achieve in character delivery and storytelling. In addition, the choreography displays conducive mix of hooligan brawling and stylish and gritty martial arts performance that aims to appease both fans of the Green Street franchise and relative fans of cinematic fight action, with rewarding results.

Of course, everyone is an entitled to an opinion, although perspective is key for the sake of discernment when it comes to what fans look for in an action film. With that in mind, and with regard to whatever sentiments there may be by critics who may have expected more or thought this film went in an entirely wrong direction, I must respectfully disagree.

Tower Block helmer Nunn presents a tale urban Euro sports culture peppered with a mix of drama, sprinkles of drunken levity, poignance and sex appeal, and a layout of murder mystery and intrigue that allows space and time for an amalgam of actors to give action cinephiles a quality product. And that is exactly what Green Street Hooligans: Underground is.

As a noteworthy mention, my 2013 interview with Nunn will hopefully add some perspective, as well as some exclusive video footage I got to share myself in 2014 during Ansah‘s New York City visit. Otherwise, Green Street Hooligans: Underground, is now availbale wherever movies are sold. Buy it or rent it  now, you wankers!