The Firm (2009)

70% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
35% of users liked it
(2,036 ratings)

Alan Clarke's 1989 movie about British soccer hooligans is ported to the early '80s in this loose remake. The film follows Dom (Callum McNab), a young man caught up in the enticing world of firms -- soccer gangs who make merry and spar with the supporters of rival teams. Bright and funny, Dom is… More Alan Clarke's 1989 movie about British soccer hooligans is ported to the early '80s in this loose remake. The film follows Dom (Callum McNab), a young man caught up in the enticing world of firms -- soccer gangs who make merry and spar with the supporters of rival teams. Bright and funny, Dom is easily welcomed into the ranks by the firm's leader, Bex (Paul Anderson). But as Dom is drawn into the escalating violence of his clique, he decides to back out. Doing that is easier said than done. Written and directed by Nick Love, who made the similarly themed The Football Factory, The Firm's greatest departure from the original is following Dom -- a relatively minor character in the original -- rather than Bex (originally played by Gary Oldman). ~ Robert Silva, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Nick Love
Written By: Nick Love
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 18, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Feb 1, 2010
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

Don Groves, sbs.com.au
The tribal violence of the soccer hooligan.
Mike Edwards, What Culture
A watchable, but disappointing, movie that brings nothing new to the serious topic it addresses.
Paul Fairclough, Little White Lies
The Firm is hardly calculated to convert those who find Love's work brash, clichéd and empty, but there's a good deal of warmth and humour here.
Nigel Floyd, Time Out
Love's second movie about hooligans marks a quantum leap forward from the messy, senseless violence of 'The Football Factory'.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
While it doesn't exactly break new ground thematically, this is Love's most accomplished film to date. Like the terrace heroes who are its subjects, it's as good-looking and stylish as it is dangerously seductive.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Love's films have, in the past, brought me out in a rash - but this one is watchable. It's well made; there's a persistent and welcome undercurrent of humour in the script that reminded me of Love's sparky debut, Goodbye Charlie Bright,
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
The odd thing is that Love's version feels so bright and breezy, as if he's cosying back up to a wider audience who were turned off by Outlaw's grimy nihilism. If that's the case, it's a wacky choice of subject, but the effort's appreciated.
Andrew O'Hagan, This is London
The film is covered in talent, including Love's, of the sort that makes you look forward to the next thing they do. Here, you feel they have a lot to climb over, but there are scenes where the attempt to get close to something real is powerfully inspired.
Simon Reynolds, Digital Spy
It's all ridiculously clichéd and over the top, yet once you give up taking it seriously and surrender to its relentless blokeishness, The Firm proves to be an enjoyable Shane Meadows-lite ride with a bit of wideboy charm.
Elliott Noble, Sky Movies
Love's film is ultimately pointless, having nothing new to say on the issues of male bonding, acceptance and tribalism.
Nigel Floyd, Filmstar Magazine
Love seems happier with his affectionate re-creation of the early '80s than with exploring the contradictions at the heart of this subculture.
Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail [UK]
A redundant compendium of blokeish cliches.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
While The Firm is slick, evocative and very violent, Love supplies yet further proof that hooligan movies have gone about as far as they can.
, Sun Online
Putdowns such as "You couldn't hit water if you fell out of a boat" crackle throughout, fun is poked at Eighties fashion and the characters feel real.
Nigel Andrews, Financial Times
A sleek, if superfluous, remake.
Neil Norman, Daily Express
The best things about this are spanking dialogue and razor-sharp slang and the plethora of new faces it introduces to the screen. But as far as the impact is concerned Love has bottled out.
Robert Hanks, Independent
Given that the original's on DVD, Love's done hooliganism, and the plot gets shut down just when it's getting interesting: why?
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
The Firm is never less than watchable, thanks to some amusing dialogue and strong performances from its two leads, but there's nothing here to mark it out from other hooligan dramas.
Robbie Collin, News of the World
This umpteenth take on the same old story is a pretty polished effort from writer-director Nick Love, you need a lot more than a snazzy soundtrack and Jimmy Savile's tracksuit collection to make it worth an unqualified thumbs-up.
Alistair Harkness, Scotsman
Love, a visual stylist with nothing original to say, delivers plenty of sickening violence, but softens the outcome - and the point - with a sentimental, redemptive ending.

Read all 20 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

EightThirty .

20/08/2010 I enjoyed the hard-knock dialogue, it was quite entertaining to listen to. Well, the fact is it's not good morally, but it's a good flick to see why it's not good to do what it is they did, you know wha' I mean? Another one of those "done… More
20/08/2010 I enjoyed the hard-knock dialogue, it was quite entertaining to listen to. Well, the fact is it's not good morally, but it's a good flick to see why it's not good to do what it is they did, you know wha' I mean? Another one of those "done before" films but hey, same drink different bottle and label. All I know is that it's a brutal flick with maybe a message, maybe, who knows what they're really trying to teach and encourage. Full of violence and wit, dudes with no care in the world may give it a fiver, but I still have my screws. Not a fiver for me but a definite alright watch. With witty dialogues that pack as much of a punch as the brutality in the story.
ernest e

Fish and chips filmmaking. Useless tasteless pointless. It keeps the same pace and tone up to the very end where they have a little fight. There is a little humor in it but even the BBC can give you better than the firm can. The firm uses a theme that has been used so often that you… More
Fish and chips filmmaking. Useless tasteless pointless. It keeps the same pace and tone up to the very end where they have a little fight. There is a little humor in it but even the BBC can give you better than the firm can. The firm uses a theme that has been used so often that you might as well stare at a wall. It does not even really give a decent picture of 80's football violence while this movie pretends to show some of it. When you have a cup of water don't pretend its a pint of.......