I.D.: Football hooliganism and the loss of identity

Everyone has their own unique identity. It is something that defines each one of us and makes us stand out from everyone around us. It stems from what we like, love and hate, the culture we were raised in, the people we interact with and much more than that. Every breathing moment our identity changes minutely because of what we experience and this ultimately defines the person that we are and the person that we will become.

England in the 1980s has tremendous problems when it comes to hooliganism; particularly football hooliganism which stems from jingoistic support for favourite clubs and results in violence and uncouth behaviour on the streets. In the Shadwell district, police officer John and his team is assigned to infiltrate the firm (gang of football hooligans) of the local football club Shadwell FC to bring down the top dogs of the group and put an end to the violence. In order to do so, John and his three colleagues are required to go undercover and win over the trust of some of the most aggressive men from the district. Somehow they manage to join the firm but in his attempts to bring down the perpetrators, John begins to empathise with the villains. He faces a big challenge when he is close to completing his mission but actually losing himself in the bargain.

I.D. was commissioned by BBC Films to showcase football hooliganism. It is a period film set in the 1980s and was directed by Philip Davis for a release in 1995. While the film shows the darker side of supporting the beautiful game of football, it really is about a person losing his own identity in one that he has made up for himself. It involves no mental condition or disorientation of any sort, it is purely about a police officer getting too close to his case and adopting his undercover persona for himself as he starts to empathise with the criminals. Unfortunately he loses out on his regular personal life as his wife and friends abandon him when they are unable to understand the change in his personality and he refuses to listen to reason as they try to connect with him. Eventually, he indulges his character so far that he crosses the line and has to face the repercussions.

Football hooliganism has been documented in many films in different forms. Some films focus on the passion of the supporters while others highlight the fact that hooliganism stems from the need for them to do something with their lives to make it less monotonous. This film touches upon the fact that hooliganism grows out of a mutual hatred for rivals which either first starts in the game and then lands up on the streets or the other way around where social hatred results in hooliganism and ultimately courses through every part of their lives including football. Unfortunately, most of the films and documentaries that focus on football and football hooliganism do not attain mainstream commercial success in spite of the popularity of the game. Likewise, this film did not receive much praise when indeed it should have.

Instead of focusing solely on the sport and the passion for it, this film focuses on the individuals that love the sport. It is more of a character story and appeals to a wide audience.

Sherlock Series 2

Quite often, we are faced with a dilemma of sorts when it comes to sequels. When we enjoy a certain show or film, it forms a benchmark in our heads for its sequel and many-a-times it does not live up to its own standards according to our expectations. This causes the problem of not wanting to watch the sequel or series in fear that it will cause disdain for the film or television show. But thankfully, the second series of the British television show Sherlock has no such problem.

Series two of Sherlock starts where it left off in the end of the first series. The cliffhanger is closed and Sherlock is faced with a new case in the first episode which is titled A Scandal In Belgravia. In this episode, Sherlock is forced to deal with a dominatrix called Irene Adler to retrieve vital data in her possession which can leave top officials in Britain with a red face. The second episode is called The Hounds of Baskerville where Sherlock must uncover the mystery of Baskerville which is reported to be haunted by huge hounds that have killed the residents of the town in the past. The third and final episode of the series is titled The Reichenbech Fall where Sherlock must battle with his arch nemesis, James Moriaty, as Moriaty proceeds to wipe out all traces of Sherlock’s credibility and leave him with no other option but to kill himself in order to save the lives of his family and friends.

Series two of the instalment does not necessarily outdo the first series. It lives up to the expectations which were set in series one and establishes the characters firmly within the context of the 21^st century adaptation. It plays on the ideas established in the first series and takes them forward, for example, Sherlock continues to place his faith in his homeless friends and trusts their network in the London underground to bring him information he finds necessary. There is also a greater exploration of Sherlock’s character and an emphasis on him being human. It does not show Sherlock as being an absolute mystery but shows a side of him which is mortal and fallible. The series shows that Sherlock needs his friends and confidants around him. It also shows that he can be wrong and make mistakes, that he is not a person without flaws and that his flaws can prove almost fatal. On more than one instance in the series, his mistake or his inability to arrive to the right conclusion on time proves to be a problem to himself and other people around him.

The series places less of an emphasis on Sherlock’s observation and deduction abilities. While they do play a major role in his crime solving as he goes about being a consultant detective, the first series had a lot more of Sherlock showing off to the audience using his quick and delicate observation powers. The series also has a tongue-in-cheek view of the relationship between Sherlock and Dr. Watson. While it is apparent that they are merely roommates and work together, Dr. Watson shows a sense of concern for Sherlock and his wellbeing while Sherlock admittedly enjoys Watson’s company; during this time, numerous reports keep popping up questioning their intentions of living and working together.

Series two of Sherlock is probably one of the most awaited television series of the year, especially after a viewing of the first series. Written by the same duo of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, this series is very interesting and entertaining all the same. It is quite original with its 21^st century relevance of an age old character that is Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Series 1

Sherlock Holmes is without a doubt one of the most recognisable fictional characters of all time in the literary world. The character is one of the most well-defined and intrinsic characters to have ever graced the written pages of books and has now found its way onto the television screen through the scripts of the well known Steven Moffat, with the assistance of Mark Gatiss. Of course, recreating an iconic character such as Sherlock Holmes is no walk in the park and Moffat has done it justice in his own right with his modern adaptation of this great classic.

Each season is made up of three episodes, each with a runtime of approximately 88 to 90 minutes. The first episode, titled A Study In Pink, is the tale of multiple deaths, all of which appear to be suicides. Sherlock is under the impression that the suicides are in fact a series of murders and sets off on his hunt for a serial killer. The second episode is titled The Blind Banker and begins with a break in at a corporate office. A case of vandalism and later murder arouses Sherlock’s interest as he takes on the case to try and decipher codes that will solve the mystery. The third episode is titled The Great Game and is a revelation of Sherlock’s archenemy as he is left clues by a psychopathic bomber who has rigged up helpless people with explosives and uses them as a mouthpiece to send Sherlock chasing after and solving puzzles to ultimately lead to a final showdown and cliffhanger.

Sherlock is introduced to Dr. John Watson in the beginning of the first episode when he is in need of a roommate and Watson is looking for a home to move into. The script then revolves around the cases that Sherlock takes on as ‘the only consulting detective in the world’ as he helps Scotland Yard in and around their abode at 221 B Baker’s Street.

Sherlock Holmes is represented as a modern image of his classic being. He is an eccentric character, which is a trademark from other characters crafted by Steven Moffat. He is never at ease with living a mundane life which drives him to find new and interesting puzzles for him to solve. He is constantly on the lookout for excitement to keep his mind occupied and ignores any cases he believes he would be able to solve easily. He is a modern adaptation who uses the assistance of cell phones and the internet to crack down his cases and has a network of underground informants which includes graffiti artists and homeless people to keep him updated. Dr. John Watson on the other hand is a rudimentary character which goes along with everything Sherlock says and hangs on his every word.

Sherlock is portrayed as a character who is very confident and self assured with everything he does. He has a keen sense of observation and deduction which helps him solve cases and arrive at conclusions at a faster rate than most other people. However, he is portrayed as a character that is fallible and does not necessarily know about everything. His dependence on technology and informers is a nice modern touch to a classic character. He is brought to life by actor Benedict Cumberbatch whose only flaw may be during dialogue delivery when Sherlock cracks a case and rants about his findings. At times like this, it becomes difficult to follow what Sherlock is saying, but then again, that is a classic Sherlock Holmes trait; minus the gloating that comes with this modern adaptation.

A great viewing experience that brings a classic character to life in the modern world with relevance, the television series is no let down. In fact, as mystery television shows go, it may be one of the best available. It must go down as a classic.