In a career stuffed full of memorable and iconic roles, for many people it is this role as Bex Bissell that is listed as his best. And he does give an incredible performance, especially in his psychotic rage towards both his rivals and his own gang members who step out of line.
But the film around him just didn't click that much for me. Lesley Manville was very good, but the script meanders and there are several scenes which just go on and on.
I can appreciate that today we have a huge number of football hooligan films and that back in the 80's, this was an extremely controversial & new type of film. But for me, as much as it is treasonous to say this, I still feel the best film I've seen about this is The Football Factory. This is mainly because the characters in that film are so relatable and the type of people I have repeatedly met when involved with football days.