The Damned United

Director:Tom Hooper
Cast: Michael Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Spall and Colm Meaney
DVD release: 15 October 2009
Rated: M

Clough given a bit of a Sheen

Michael Sheen came to prominence for his role as Tony Blair in The Queen with Helen Mirren, and since then he’s often cast to play famed celebrities like David Frost (Frost/Nixon) and now Brian Clough (actually Sheen’s been in front of cameras since 1993 in a TV flick Gallowglass and in big screen movies like Underworld). He takes on these diverse notable characters and uncannily impersonates them. Although Brian Clough is the least known of the names in Australia (apart from soccer fans) Sheen’s performance in The Damned United is another winner.

Must mention I’ve scant knowledge of soccer or its history in the UK. That’s not to say I didn’t find the movie a fascinating study of the sport, its politics, and colourful characters; particularly how a manager relates to the players in his team. However soccer fans will gain a great deal more and the film will undoubtedly score highly in England. It tells the story (set in the 1970's) of the fall from grace of most successful British team manager of all times Brian Clough, his unreasonable rivalry with Don Revie and his long and sometimes troubled friendship with Peter Taylor.

Broadly based on David Peace’s novel The Damned Utd scriptwriter Peter Morgan (who also penned Frost/Nixon and The Queen) omits some of the darker aspects for a more palatable film version of Brian Clough’s doomed 44-day tenure as manager of the Leeds United soccer team at the height of their success. Clough’s super critical of the previous manager, his famous rival Don Revie (Colm Meaney) who brought an aggressive style of football to the Leeds club which obviously worked. This is an anathema to Clough (Michael Sheen) with his amazing success building minor teams to greatness using his own particular flamboyant management style: a combination of driving force and unbridled ambition.

However his rise to fame and fortune included much input by his trusted lieutenant and friend Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall). After a disagreement, Taylor refuses to go on to Leeds with Clough. Leeds players still under Revie’s influence resent their new manager and his belligerence towards their old boss. They lose badly in forthcoming matches. The no-win situation results in the now unpopular Clough being dismissed by the board. But that's not the end of his story.

Michael Sheen provides a crackling performance, capturing both cruelty and humour of the egotistical fast talking ‘pain the in backside’ Clough. It ranks with his best. Mention must be made of Timothy Spall’s (Appaloosa) sincere effort in a well tempered reading of the likable and loyal Peter Taylor; while Colm Meaney (Life on Mars) adroitly manages to keep Don Revie from being the villain of the piece. In smaller performances, Henry Goodman (Colour Me Kubrick) and Jim Broadbent (The Young Victoria) show their mettle once more. Britain's fortunate in having a stable of fine character players so often seen on TV.

Helmed by Tom Hooper from small screen dramas like Prime Suspect 6 who does a commendable job coaxing the best from his cast. The film doesn't have the greatest quality visuals, however they're spiced up with quirky compositions and atmospheric shots, at times emphasizing the bleakness of north England, while candid close-ups make their own comment on the local people. There’s good integration of archival footage to flesh out the details.

An effective sequence has Clough in his office while the game is played outside, heard but unseen by him as he anxiously watches the clock - far more dramatic than if he was a spectator on the ground. Clough’s confrontation with Don Revie on national TV at the end of the film is beautifully handled by both actors. Even if you’re not a soccer fan, as a pure sporting film this is one of the best.

John Bale