The Guvnors.

Not sure why anyone would want to make another football hooligan picture, albeit one that’s just a ‘tiny’ bit different, is beyond me? Nevertheless I have a confession to make - I really did enjoy it - however you must promise me not to tell anyone! Yes ok I agree it nonsense but sometimes nonsense can be quite agreeable. Basically it’s a violent thriller involving two different generations of thugs. Think ill Manors (2012) and Nick Love’s Football Factory (2004) mixed with a touch of I.D. (1994) probably the best film about the hooligan problem, and you got the nature of the film. The film stars Arsenal fan Harley Alexander-Sule, one half of the British hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks, who plays Adam Shanko and a music star from another era David Essex who plays the ‘old man’ Mick Snr. 

The new Guvnors.

Most of the action is on a South East London council scheme and the only time we revert to the football stadia is in flashbacks when we witness what took place over twenty years ago when the English Disease was rife and each football team had its own firm – in this instance The Guvnors. The main man twenty years ago was Mitch (Doug Allen who appears as a prison officer in We Are Monsters 2014) who is now a successful businessman, has a wife and teenage son, owns his own company, big house, flash car and all the trimmings. The rest of the Firm, who all still look fit and a bit tasty, has settled down including Mick Snr who runs a boxing club for young wayward’s, Neil (Jay Simpson) runs a boozer, while another has become a copper. All have turned their backs on there previous lifestyle. That is until hoody Adam Shanko and his team, who dispense their own brand of justice and now ‘run’ the estate, decide to increase their street cred by challenging the ‘old farts’ and set out to confront them. Shanko comes unstuck when Mick Snr teaches him the meaning of a sucker punch; Shanko is therefore disrespected publicly via CCTV uploaded onto social media. Forced into action the hoody reasserts his standing, which starts a chain of events that leads to old sore’s being re-infected.

The original Guvnors.

Gabe Turners first feature film sets out its stall from frame one and does not let up the tension, or the action, until the finally credits role. It takes the viewer to a world, which many will thankfully not know first hand and which our politicians would like to forget -  a place of youth unemployment and austerity where local disputes and justice are all settled by violence. Give this well made movie a chance, and Harley Alexander-Sule performance is certainly worthy of futher attention.