Absolutely Fantastic

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

...Brian Clough.I met him once,a few years down the line from the events depicted here.It was a Leyton Orient where Notts Forest were set to play an evening cup tie they could well have done without as the pitch was like a bog and it was lashing with rain.Clough was on the pitch wielding a fork as he attempted to disperse the pools of water seeping up from the underground river that flooded frequently back in the days before proper drained grounds were the order of the day. "Surely that's not your job,gaffer?",I said. "If I don't do it no other bugger will,and the last thing I need is for the bloody game to be postponed",he grumbled. We chatted for a minute or two and I asked him about an International defender the papers said he was trying to buy. He leaned on the fork for a moment and said,"Well,lad,he wanted me to pay his fxxxxxx mortgage off and give him 30 grand under the table,so I thought "bollocks to you,young man" and that's the end of it". This frankness was typical of him and accounted in a large measure why he was disliked by the game's governing body.And his (justified) self - confidence,nay,arrogance which is well bought out in "The Damned United". Only he will ever know why he chose to try a Don Quixote job on Don Revie's team which was reviled throughout English football except for a few square miles of God's Own County. He failed because of poisonous personalities in the team who hated him intensely and he was sacked after six weeks when the directors would have been better off sacking those players who sought to do him down. They must have felt sick when six years later he collected his second consecutive European Cup with a team on paper less talented. Mr M.Sheen is superb as this strange contradictory man,capturing his mannerisms perfectly.Mr T.Spall matches him in the rather more subdued role as his partner in bromance Peter Taylor. The actors playing footballers look exactly like that - actors playing footballers. The staged football scenes are not very convincing but the point is made that Leeds United were pariahs in the First Division and thoroughly deserve their current obscurity. Some where in that great manager's office in the sky,Clough is turning to Jock Stein and Mat Busby and saying "I told you so".

The Damned United (2009) is a biopic about Brian Clough, a former British football player and manager. Directed by Tom Hooper, the film is centred around Clough's infamously unsuccessful managerial spell at Leeds United. The way in which the main character's rise and fall in the football word are portrayed as interwoven with both his partner Peter Taylor – portrayed by Timothy Spall – and his antagonist Don Revie – played by Colm Meany who bears an uncanny resemblance to the real-life figure – is typical for Peter Morgan's screenplays. The eccentric Clough, who seeks to revolutionise Leeds United after Revie's time as manager ended, is superbly captured by Michael Sheen, who is undoubtedly well versed in bringing Morgan's intricate scripts to life. They already worked together on The Deal (2003), The Queen (2006), Frost/Nixon (2008) and subsequently on The Special Relationship (2010). Tom Hooper manages to conjure up the atmosphere of the football world, in which team spirit is an imperative for success, by creating strong references to family unity. Clough's partner Peter Tayler is a gifted talent scout and keeps his lofty colleague grounded, whilst exhibiting an often comical level of intimacy within their symbiotic relationship. Revie on the other hand, takes the place of an admired, yet unattainable father figure in Clough's life. Scenes in which Clough meticulously prepares the run-down Derby County stadium for an FA Cup tie with the then overpowering Leeds United, managed by Revie, establish Clough's basic wish of being respected and admired as a manager. The brutal defeat of his team and the apparently snobbish behaviour of Revie serve as a turning point in Clough's life. Hooper skilfully juxtaposes Clough's heyday at Derby, characterised by chanting fans and bright background lighting lending the manager a saint-like aura, with his bleak days at Leeds, culminating in austerely lit scenes of total isolation. Although the film is deeply rooted in the 1960s and 70s, topics such as outrageous wages and enormous egos are still very relevant to modern football fans. This biopic pays tribute to the legendary partnership of Clough and Taylor, whilst telling a cautionary tale about the detrimental effect of lacking solidarity and humbleness in the sporting world. All in all, an amazing cast performance, an engaging screenplay – albeit not strictly biographical – and riveting editing, interlaced with flashbacks and montages, guarantee an enjoyable viewing experience for everyone who likes to look behind the scenes of sports management.

The Damned United tells the more or less true story of Brian Clough's catastrophic 44 days as manager of Leeds United. As with many movies based on a true story some facts are changed, embellishments are made. But the heart of the real-life story remains. And what a story it is. Those unfamiliar with the story may wonder why a movie was made about a man who failed. That is certainly not the typical sports movie narrative. But the story of Brian Clough is so much more than those 44 days. And this movie tells that story very well. We see his triumphs, we see his misery. We see him at the pinnacle and at the lowest depths. Through sheer force of personality Brian Clough made himself a success. And then that same forceful personality would be his undoing.Michael Sheen plays Clough and turns in a truly outstanding performance. Clough's personality and brilliance shine through in Sheen's performance. The haughty pride, bitterness and resentment which were a part of Clough are also laid bare. Clough was certainly a flawed character but an undeniably fascinating one. Sheen brings him to life perfectly. There are some key supporting players who help. Timothy Spall plays Clough's right-hand man Peter Taylor. Jim Broadbent plays a club chairman. And Colm Meaney plays the villain of the piece, Don Revie, the Leeds manager whom Clough is obsessed with bettering. In truth of course Revie is a villain only in Clough's mind. Revie's teams won but in Clough's mind they did not win the right way. Clough was out on a crusade to win soccer matches properly, without resorting to the dirty tactics of Leeds. All well and good until you go to Leeds yourself and tell your new players they're a bunch of cheaters.Rather then tell a straightforward tale, following Clough from his successes at Derby to his disaster at Leeds the film jumps back and forth in time, between the two story lines. We see Clough floundering at Leeds, jump back to his glory at Derby, then go forward to Leeds again. The film maintains this setup throughout, bringing the two stories together wonderfully. Even with all the back and forth the story still flows very well. And doing it this way ties everything together much better. Rather than seeing a simple rise and fall we are taken on quite a roller coaster ride, the highest of highs followed by the lowest of lows and back again. Seeing Clough's struggles at Leeds gives a different perspective when we then see him at his best at Derby. All the way through Sheen is spot-on in every moment. He owns the character. The likes of Spall, Broadbent and Meaney make their contribution but make no mistake this is Sheen's film through and through. There are some little quibbles to be made with the film. You do wish they could have stuck a little closer to the truth at times, some of the events here are twisted around rather unnecessarily. The facts of the story should have been good enough, the movie is let down somewhat by some of its fiction. The soccer action we see is not always convincing but it works well enough. And we really only see limited bits of action anyway. This is not a film about the players, not about the sport, but about Brian Clough. We see Clough succeed beyond anyone's wildest expectations at little Derby and we see him cut down to size at big, bad Leeds. It is a film which provides a compelling look at a truly fascinating man. Brian Clough is such a great character, the flawed hero you can't tear your eyes away from. The Damned United is a movie which does that hero justice.

It has to be said that there is not much competition for best film in this category.Probably the last half decent film,The Arsenal stadium Mystery was made in 1939!It is a tour de force for both leading actors.However there is one point on which i will take issue,namely the reason Cloughie hated Revie.Revie was known as "Don Reddies".the reason is that it is alleged that Revie tried to fix games.Never ever proved but no smoke without fire.It is also true that Revie produced one of the most detested teams of all time.They could all play but they preferred to intimidate.It is ironic then that at the end of his managerial career Clough was found guilty of certain offences.however his image,unlike Revies is not tarnished.He managed an opposition club but i still hold him in affection.