The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan: A Bizarrely Familiar Ride

Okay folks, strap in! This one is a bit of a rollercoaster—yet a ride you might’ve taken before. “The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan” sounds more like a band gig than a film, but I gave it a whirl on a lazy Saturday. Alright, perhaps the biggest surprise is how it’s all about football (or soccer, for anyone who insists on the funny languages of our friends across the pond) but wrapped up in crime and drama. It’s like Ljungby’s Sunday league footie, with a side of mafia. You didn’t get that down on the pitch!

Nick Nevern, our lovable rogue Mike Jacobs, does his bit well, kicking and screaming through the murky underworld—though from time to time, I felt he might’ve been more at home downing kanelbullar at a local café. For that matter, he works well with Simon Phillips. Now, Phillips has this charm that even my buddy Ulf admired when we saw him in “The Fall of the Essex Boys.” Seems these lads enjoy tumbling cultures of crime, huh?

A quick shoutout to Paul Tanter, the director behind this madness. Tanter aims for a Guy Ritchie-like flair but lands somewhere between a Swedish crime drama and a chaotic London market. Sure, some scenes feel like digesting surströmming: fascinating, yet you question your choices.

Once, I found myself embroiled in a tangled investment hullabaloo. Now, watching Mike navigate his financial chaos, I couldn’t help but smirk. Maybe it’s the hustler spirit we all flirt with every now and then, hey? You’d think the land of IKEA and Midsommar has taught us better.

All said, give it a shot if turbulent heists tickle your fancy. You might find it strangely relatable—except with a lot more hooliganism and a lot less peace-and-quiet of Swedish lakesides.

Check the trailer below