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 THE FIRM – Nick Love   “A great remake of a cult classic" 

UPDATED DEC 2009/Jan 2010  - FIRM DVD IS RELEASED 1st FEB 2010 - visit our page dedicated to key items available as a result of The Firm.

We started talking about Nick Loves new movie ‘The Firm’ on the site many months ago having assisted with film costume since early 2008. We were on location last year with wardrobe buddy Andrew Cox for some major number scenes and were privileged to see an advance screening and you can be assured we will be buzzing for a good few years yet... awesome. If The Business lit the touch paper on an 80’s Casual revival in 2006 we could be talking the fire of London when The Firm hits the screens now 18^th September 2009. Since the cinema our website sold 8 times as much the week of release and stories have been printed about Fila and Sergio Tacchini all over the UK. Luckily 80s casual classics have commisioned our own styles based on much Film product

Nick Love might have took to a life writing/directing films after an epiphany seeing the original Allan Clarke cult film ‘The Firm’ but he has not gone down the route of straight remake, creating a fresh film of his own with a story based around Dom and a greater sense of the reality of these times.  No matter how much the original was well remembered it was greatly Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Bex and in recent times spotting Phil Mitchell from Eastenders and the reminder that Benny from Grange Hill had his face slashed.  With a good few casual faces at the screening the feedback was you can almost forget the original they are worlds apart.

The general consensus of the cult status 80’s Firm was we had seen very little on UK TV back then and it was a very dark portrayal of the times.  Nick Loves film at times celebrates a more colourful way of life and the high’s and low’s of young casuals with the added usual humour you would expect in a Nick Love film.  Major criticisms of the Alan Clarke film were that the wardrobe and numbers in hooligan gangs being wrong. The original had its far share of one liner’s and as you can imagine Nick Love is not short of his own with much London speak of the time. With the film set early 80s, we are reminded of Blue Peters Joey Deacon, Mad Lizzie, Michael Jackson jackets and the trademark great soundtrack that could launch an 80s club scene revival...starting Bedford 19th September !!

Wardrobe 80’s Casual Classics played a big part assisting with the wardrobe for the film with much research and late nights and a whole load of collector’s product. Feedback from key faces at the preview was its “SPOT ON”. The Business was a centre court show of vintage 80s Tennis, Sergio Tacchini, Fila and Ellesse; primarily Danny Dyer. In ‘The Firm’ the young terrace casuals are fully clobbered up in Italian sportswear of the day and casual rarities appear throughout with the likes of Best Company Coats and Sweats, Kappa Cagoules, Australian L’alpina, Lacoste, Farah, Lois, Gabicci, Adidas rarieties, golf shoes, Munchen, Forest Hills, Benetton Rugby Shirts in Green/Blue/ Pink , Patrick, Burberry, Full Tracksuits from Sergio, Fila and Ellesse , Kickers, Nike Wimbledon’s, Ski jackets, Roll Necks, Pringle Diamonds and split bottom jeans /cords and Im still leaving twice as much for casual train spotting..

There will be no doubt that this film shows the greatest portrayal of clothing of the time for casuals of the day.  Nick Love elsewhere has suggested it’s his memories of being a casual in London and clearly as we know each area had its own fashion agendas.  However there is more than enough to convince any 80s casual connoisseur of the era that was, with a major thumbs up already from the North on 80s Casuals site.  

         THE KEY TRACK TOP- FILA TERRINDA IN RED

The Key Characters

Bex- Obviously the toughest role to live up to the original is Bex and Nick Love has discovered an amazing find in Paul Anderson who is undoubtedly convincing throughout – bringing across a cocky swagger , good humour and don’t fuck with me attitude.

The Yeti – Daniel Mayes possibly the most well known of the actors (Vera Drake, Atonement) is flash and very cocky in trademark roll neck and Burberry Mac. The Millwall Firm head plays his part in winding Bex and the crew up. 

Trigger – is a tough evil hard right hand man To Bex and the firm No.2 and gives newcomer Dom a tough time settling and a few others a good hiding   

Dom – Calum McNab appeared in the Football Factory possibly most memorable as the human dart board alongside Roland Manookian and was tipped at the time by Nick Love for a future career in film. Clearly this is a major new character created by Nick love that shows a young lad out of his depth and the story gets you wrapped up in his fast changing life as he becomes a recognised member of The Firm.

Although set in the world of casual football gangs, the firm is a positive film that could be about any teenager on the cusp of becoming a man today, that wants to join gangs and be accepted by his peers.

Already fans of Nick Love films , The Firm is pure genius in taking on a remake of one of the most memorable films of the 80s era and creating something completely up beat, fresh and current that see it stands out in its own right and without doubt his best release to date 5***** (see our selective quotes below). 

Nick Love may well know his market and while having a website formed on a customer base made up of old skool 80’s casuals and fans of Nick Love, we have no doubt this film will be a huge success, not only those that remember the times but with todays young men who will relate to the pressures of peers and appreciate an education as to how much is owed to the casual era for true branded one-upmanship and men looking good today!

Here are a few worthy quotes already being bounded about:-

The years best british Film - Zoo *****

EMPIRE ****         TOTAL FILM ****

The Firm is to 80’s Casuals what Quadrophenia was to The Mods. 

The Firm is a reminder of Nick Love's undoubted talent and technique - THE TIMES 

There has not been a great UK lads DVD/ cinema film since Lock Stock, Trainspotting etc and this has all the ingredients to fill the void of over 10 years.