Historical Texts

Text: The Firm
Made: 1988

While watching 'The Firm' I found that it was similar in some areas to 'Green Street' but there were some aspects that were presented very differently. I found that the is was based around males more than females, proving that football and hooliganism is still very male-dominated. However, in ‘The Firm’ women have a more active role as their characters are more developed than the female characters in Green Street. The females however are represented as sexual objects for the men or otherwise as housewives, taking care of the children. In green street, women aren't represented as sex objects as significantly as they are in ‘The Firm’, the one main female in the movie is portrayed as a housewife but she is more sophisticated than the wives in ‘The Firm’. this difference is also linked to the fact that in ‘The Firm’ the characters a are mainly from a working class whereas in green street the protagonist is from an upper class family. Also in ‘The Firm’ both Black, Asian and White males play football together and are part of the same firm, there is less racism portrayed, whereas in green street they are all in separate firms and at one point in Green street the whites refer to the opposing firm consisting of black males as 'Zulus'. Similarities of both text relate to the tunes that the firm members sing while at the pub which is their main hang out. In ‘The Firm’ the degrading line said by the men in the pub to the female strippers is ‘Get your tits out for the boys’ the same tune is used in green street but for lines such as 'Get some drinks in!', which shows that the males in ‘The Firm’ cheer about very different things to those in green street, linking to their ideologies which is different.
In ‘The Firm’, the men are shown at work more than those in green street. The protagonist is usually in his for suit which shows that he does have a job and isn't a layabout whereas in green street the protagonist does have a respectable job as a teacher, but dresses as though he is unemployed (very casual). the firm also shows men more into their families and discuss their actions with their wives whereas in green street things are kept secret from the wives and girlfriends.
In ‘The Firm’ the firms are not very serious before a major planned fight. They pose in funny ways taking pictures and are hyper about what is to come whereas in green street the firm members leave their homes as if they know they may not return again. This is a big difference because it outlines how important and serious the firms have become over the years. The members choose to vandalise more than they choose to fight face to face as they enjoy taunting in ‘The Firm’ whereas in green street they have a high adrenaline rush that they just want to let out and therefore fight face to face rather than vandalising each others property.

http://www.chokingonpopcorn.com/popcorn/index.php?p=527
http://www.cinematicreflections.com/TheFirm.html