Much like the novel on which it is based, The Damned United is very much a film about football for those who, really, don’t much like football. Sure, if you know your league tables as well as your middle name, then I’m sure that you’ve had your tickets booked since the movie was announced. But would others really be interested in the internal politics and clashes of football teams from the 70s? But after watching the film it becomes quite apparent that, for all intent and purposes, The Damned United is actually a love story…
By 1974, the cocky and quite brilliant manager Brian Clough has steered the lowly Derby County to the heights of the Division 1 championship. He’s harbours an intense hatred for Leeds United. So it comes as a bit of a surprise when he’s named the new manager of LUFC. Unsurprisingly, the likes of Billy Bremner don’t take too kindly to their new boss and a
clash of personalities ensues. And just why hasn’t Peter Taylor, Clough’s right hand man, accompanied him to Elland Road?
Tom Hooper’s film is both a powerful story of pride, love and redemption and a marvellous evocation of the 70s (yep, if nylon and shockingly bad wallpaper are your things, you’ll adore this movie). Michael Sheen plays Clough in a measured performance that contains enough elements of the manager’s personality to feel truthful whilst never drifting into full on ‘impersonation’ mode. His interplay with Timothy Spall, playing Clough’s long suffering footballling partner Peter Taylor with passion and verve, forms the emotional heart of the entire film.
Hooper himself has done a fine job in avoiding the pitfalls that many ‘performance’-based films can fall into, with some fine on-screen visuals. And, as someone who has lived 20 minutes away from Elland Road since he was 4, his depiction of the old stadium is nothing short of a triumph.
Football fans should get their – pardon the pun – kicks (though Leeds fans should be warned that the sainted 70s team are firmly the villains of the piece, a fact that has annoyed many of those who were involved in proceedings in real life) whilst those who have trouble differentiating between league tables and coffee tables will find that the films helpfully explains everything for them without feeling to forced.
Whilst questions about the veracity of the film continue to be raised, this is an excellent ensemble piece in which Brian Clough and Peter Taylor realise that, despite the love they have for their beautiful game, they love they have for each other is more important. So it’s like any romantic story then: just with more goal kicks and dodgy hairstyles.
Thanks to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment we have four copies of The Damned United to give away on DVD. Click here to be in with a chance of getting one. The competition closes 18th September and winners will be picked at random.
And, if you’re not lucky enough to win, The Damned United is released on DVD and Blu-Ray on 31st August 2009 and is available from all good stockists.
(A version of this review first appeared on Film And Festivals Magazine on www.filmandfestivals.com)
While you’re at it why not check out Laurence’s round up of fabulous films out this September her
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