Review of The Damned United (2009) by Yazad B — 02 Oct 2010

To be the best, you got to beat the best.

Look, the real-life story wasn't as pulsating as the film (correct me, if I'm mistaken). A story about how a no-reputation manager could challenge for honours at the top. Now, that's interesting. You can't shy away from the fact that nowadays, we don't have the same loyalty, or the same bond between manager and assistant. But we do have annoying board of directors. Anyway, football issues aside, the film is riveting.

Michael Sheen was a man destined for the job, you feel. His charisma, intelligence, doggedness, never-say-die attitude just makes us want more. He makes the film light up in every scene, on and off the pitch. Spall was equally up to the task. Best supporting actor I've seen in a long time.

Although it may have just been predictable in the end, it is also undeniably thoughtful. The movie has a simple plot, but the movement of the plot was different, and that made it incomparably entertaining. We are left feeling curious all the time.

This should be, I think, the ultimate football movie. Nothing can, may, shall, will be compared to this. Its sheer grit portrayed has given us football fans, motivation and reason to believe that we can one day, achieve something. From zero to hero.

Personally*.... As a Liverpool fan, I could feel a certain deja vu, what with the board not providing any funds and the manager having to build right from the bottom.