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 Director: Tom Hooper
Cast: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent
Run Time: 97 minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Year: 2009
Language: English
Rating: PG (Coarse language)
Based on a novel by David Peace, The Damned United is an
affectionate, tongue-in-cheek homage to English football in
the 1970s. Reuniting the stellar partnership of screenwriter
Peter Morgan and star Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon, The Queen),
the film is a welcome alternative to the standard inspirational
sports biopic and can most definitely be enjoyed without
knowledge of the ins and outs of English football.
Set in 1974, The Damned United follows former England
player Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) – now revered as one of
the greatest English football managers – during his 44-day
tenure as coach of the Leeds United Football Club. Prior to
this posting, he successfully presided over Derby, raising that
club to new heights with the aid of his indispensable righthand
man, Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall, Pierrepoint: The Last
Hangman), and the belief that the beautiful game “must be
played beautifully.” Clough takes over Leeds from his rival
Don Revie (Colm Meaney, Intermission), who was managing a
squad more brutal than beautiful, and soon creates plenty of
friction both on and off the pitch with his abrasive style.
Using a flashback structure, The Damned United’s careful
attention to period detail and clever use of archival
footage offers a compelling snapshot of another era. And
Michael Sheen, much like his previous transformations in
The Queen and Frost/Nixon, superbly channels the arrogance
of a manager who took on the football establishment
to shape a winning team.
Sharp, funny and thoroughly entertaining, The Damned
United presents a compelling and passionate look at the
near-religious fervour inspired by the beautiful game.
“Offering just enough football to satisfy the fans in the
stands, The Damned United is also a pleasingly high quality
British drama with some terrific performances.”– Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International
Reviews: www.metacritic.com/video/titles/damnedunited
Official site www.sonyclassics.com/thedamnedunited/
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