The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan (2012)

Well Deserved Praise

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Mike Jacobs (Nick Nevern) has fallen on hard times. His friend Eddie (Simon Philips) offers him a job as a driver. He reluctantly accepts and wants to be sure he is not running drugs. As it turns out he is part of a credit card ring that steals information, manufactures cards, then uses the ATM machine to extract cash. They are stealing from banks.The story includes Mike's girlfriend (Rita Ramnani), his love for football, and the involvement of law enforcement because guys putting cards into ATMs, taking out cash, and trying not to get caught doesn't even pass for entertainment on U-Tube.The film claims it is based on a true story. This is a crime drama light on action but can still hold your interest. 3 1/2 stars.PARENTAL GUIDE: F-bomb, sex, no nudity.

The idea while not the most original was interesting and could have been a decent movie if done right. Sadly, apart from Nick Nevern's intensely brooding lead performance, there is little that is right about The Rise and Fall of a White Collar Hooligan. The movie is not exactly amateurish to look at strictly speaking but it does have a rather drab look to it, there are scenes where it is good to have it but the scam/thriller moments were in serious need of more slickness. The soundtrack is not fitting at all and as music is dull and not memorable in the slightest. The dialogue is embarrassingly ham-fisted and while the swearing was appropriate within the type of movie it was the use of it was overkill, literally every other word. There is a little bit of violence, though surprisingly not particularly much. Considering the brutality of the language, you'd think the violence would match that, I personally was surprised at how played too safe it seemed. The very cobbled-together story handles the various themes(which it doesn't balance particularly well) with no depth to it and it all seemed rather half-hearted, not only that but for a 75 minute movie there wasn't anywhere near enough story to sustain it and to make up for it there are a lot of padded clichéd scenes. There are no characters to properly root for, they are so generic and parody-like, and apart from Nevern the acting comprises of actors who play themselves(Billy Murray), use forced delivery(Roland Manookian) or who can't do anything with their roles(pretty much everybody else). To conclude, decent potential that goes nowhere. 2/10 Bethany Cox

I quite liked this, it had a dark feel to it which reminded me of other films in this kind of genre. The problem i had was that the characters did not just fit - is this guy a footy hooligan, loving boyfriend or loathsome fraudster. Yes, i guess you could say all 3 but honestly...? i don't think they pulled it off, same applies for his 'supervisor' - really?When the gang lord (Guvnor, boss, top man we are told)gives him a gun he does not blink, but later he moans he has never needed a gun nor used one and it frightened him - seemed quick enough to slid it in the back of his trousers first time though without a hitch or thought (surely anyone who has never held a gun would say remark how heavy they are??)Aspects of the film were very clichéd particularly the dialogue, do gangsters really speak to each like that, i have no idea, but it must get boring quick if they do...Overall, worth a watch but don't expect Snatch or something as this is not that, it stands up well but ultimately heads into well travelled land.The footy film is a weak link at best, it defo plays second fiddle to the credit card fraud. Maybe the title needs a change? I could barely see the link (again characters did not fit for me)6/10 for me.

My God. Another year, and another sloppy gangster flick comes our way. You are given the impression that this is on a level with Rise Of The Footsoldier because it also stars Billy Murray, Ricci Harnett and Roland Manookian, but you'd be very much mistaken. This is a very insulting film. It's only 75 minutes long, and the plot and level of violence in it are very slight indeed. The plot revolves around a team of pass card skimmers making big money for a Mr Big. When the main protagonist gets arrested in France, it sets in motion a series of events that lead to him wanting to quit the gang. However, it's never that simple. By the end of this film when the credits are going up, you are left asking yourself "Is that it ?". It must have been filmed in one afternoon. It's just not good enough. Lord knows if it went straight to video or appeared in a cinema. I'd feel conned if I paid a tenner to see this rubbish