Review of The Damned United (2009) by Rory P — 30 Jan 2011

A castrated version of the novel.

It simply wimps out of portraying Clough as the nebulous ball of rage he is in the book (The ranting inner monologues of the book actually remind me of Taxi Driver), ignoring the novels uncomfortable portrayal, instead appropriating the -'flawed but likable cheeky chappy' ouevre that has been done to death by British cinema- within this historical context/reality. Its an attempt at characterisation that shouldn't really fly with anyone anymore, except for those soccer lovers who need to believe in romantic notions of the hard working, emotionally hardened yet dedicated British everyman to keep their world/football mythology intact.

Ok its one of those working class genre cliches, which, with its potential hardness and emotive possibilities, can still offer up just enough lack of bullshit to get away with its use. But its an old and tired trope, especially when compared to the superior content of the novel. Its a crying shame they went with the less provocative and safer mode of characterisation.

The film clearly doesn't want to offend anyone who actually likes the sport and has a stake in the 'football supporting worldview'. End result - The film has no cahones, is kinda boring, and though nicely shot it generally feels a tad empty, like it is missing something.

The acting is a mix of good and adequate. Colm Meaney does well with what he has to work with as former Leeds Manager Don Revie and Jim Broadbent grimaces in the background as the Derby Chairman. Spall is dependable as usual, although he does not look anything like Clough's 2nd in command Peter Taylor. When you see the real life Taylor, who is a far larger physical presence next to Clough, you wonder if Spalls diminitive and portly stature has a subliminal effect on the portrayal of their 'Loud and flamboyant (Clough) vs. quiet, wise and meek' (Taylor) relationship in the film. A bit nit picky I know, but all i'm suggesting is If the physical manifestation of the character was a tad more dominant/larger, the image could have made way for a slightly less conventional portrayal of their friendship/dynamic.

Sheen's portrayal of Clough is adequate in some respects, but it just didn't cut the mustard for me. It often felt like a shallow mimicry (one which didn't sometimes compute with me as being similar to Clough). It felt more like a 'this is Michael Sheen pulling a face' performance rather then a proper 'forgetting it is Michael Sheen' inhabiting.

The film paints Don Revie, the head of the Derby board and certain members of Leeds United in a bad light, but the sport is worshipped and Clough is presented as the football legend dictates, i.e. worthy and flawed (he was nothing without his 2nd in command Peter Taylor supposedly) but a 'true lover/genius of the artform'. The book however is far more scathing, and doesn't give a shit about such alliegances to mythology, painting the whole institution as a sordid money grubbing affair and the people who are involved in it as troubled 2 faced psychos. Which is a brave and refreshing approach that feels closer to the truth then the stale alternative described above.

But of course that wouldn't sell as a film to football fans, would it.