Review of The Damned United (2009) by Pranav G — 25 Jan 2010

In 2006 writer David Peace?s book ?The Damned United? hit British book stores, and almost instantly attracted controversy. In the story of football manager Brian Clough?s 44 day reign as the manager of Leeds United contained a few elements which many who were involved in the events believed to be untrue. Peace defended his effort by claiming that he used fiction to personify the facts.

The 2009 film adaptation of the same name kind of worked as a filter system. All the things that came under massive scrutiny were removed, instead favoured for the more truthful tale. For those who are reading who are unfamiliar with Britain?s national sport (even though we aren?t really that good at it), Brian Clough is considered to be a legend of the game as a player and a manager. As manager of Derby County he took them to literally to top of the world, until a disagreement with the owners left him and his friend and assistant coach Peter Taylor resigning. Clough?s next move was to become the manager of Leeds United, Derby?s most hated rival and a team that Clough had despised. His decision was almost his way of getting revenge on the team he left behind. His friend Peter Taylor though refused to go with Clough, leaving him all alone in the wilderness.

The Damned United then is the story of how Brian Clough only remained manager of Leeds for 44 days, an experience which nearly destroys him. Just because this is a story about football (sorry, soccer) is not an excuse to give this one a miss. It is about the football of course, but the main focus of the film is Brian Clough played mesmerizingly by Michael Sheen, an actor so well tuned to playing real life people when he is on screen you think he really is Clough. His performance at points is light hearted and humours, for example when he asks Peter Taylor ?McGovern was useless, whose idea was that?, to which Taylor replies ?yours?. In a typical British response, Clough laughs and replies ?good lad?. The tortured soul though is always hiding behind his arrogant demeanour, as we see his is a man afraid of losing and afraid of being wrong.

Colm Meaney stars as Don Revie, the man who was Leeds manager prior to Clough is at the very heart of the film even though he gets minimal screen time. A young Brian Clough while manager of Derby looked up to Revie as an idol, but after refusing to shake his hand after the game and not willing to have a drink with him after the game left Clough hurt and shunned. Since that point his one goal was to beat Leeds and knock them off their pedestal. In the game when Derby finally beat Leeds, Clough is so nervous his is unable to work up the courage to leave the dressing room; instead trying to decipher what is happening from the crowd?s cheers and jeers.

British director Tom Hopper does a good job capturing Clough?s 44 day reign, smoothly moving along from flashback of his time at Derby to what are the present day events at Leeds. It looks like it could be a promising career for the young director after making the move from TV direction to film not long before. Hopefully this will be the vehicle he needs to advance himself further. Peter Morgan pens the script, and continues his collaboration with Michael Sheen after an award winning turn writing The Queen.

If the film does have a down side it is it?s over focus on the pessimistic aspect and it does at points feel a little loosely put together, by Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall as Peter Taylor complement each other well. It isn?t the typical sports movie, which works well in its favour. Even if you are unfamiliar with soccer, it is well worth a try.