THE DAMNED UNITED – Reviewed by J.D.

(Warning: Sports-related terminology, of both a British and American variety, is contained in the following review, including the usage of the term ‘football’ for ‘soccer‘, references to 1970′s baseball managers, and the like. To find out whether the film is ‘shot well’, is ‘well lit’, or is ‘an adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride‘, please consult the footnotes at the bottom of the page.)

In sports, as in life, one can never overlook the value of pure spite in terms of getting ahead. How many great successes have been achieved under the auspices of ‘I’ll show you (Mom/Guidance Councelor/Significant Other Who Has Rejected Me/Burt Reynolds)’? The need to avenge perceived slights, no matter how arbitrary, has proven time and again to be the necessary motivation to scale greater heights than would normally have been possible. To say the ‘triumph of the human spirit’ is often driven by pettiness is probably a bit of an overstatement, but that’s the theme I’ve chosen, so let’s see where it goes.

The Damned United, based on David Peace‘s historical fiction novel, was adapted by the current go-to scribe of historical fiction scripts, Peter Morgan, and not coincidentally stars Michael Sheen, who has become the Olivier of the form of late, portraying once and future game show hosts David Frost and Tony Blair in prior Morgan projects. Sheen this time tackles the role of Brian Clough, iconic English football coach who, much like Blair, rose to great heights only to see his reputation ruined when his abilities proved less than equal to his ambitions.

Clough became famous in England in the early 1970‘s, when he and his long-time aide Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall), steadily guided lowly Derby County to the very pinnacle of success by winning the Premiere League title. He was able to achieve this unheard-of feat not only by his coaching skills, and Taylor’s keen eye for talent new and used, but also due to an incident during a match with powerhouse Leeds United, coached by legendary Don Revie (Colm Meaney). Alter Leeds dismantled Derby on the pitch, Revie committed the ultimate insult; he didn’t bother to shake Clough‘s hand after the match. Clough was never able to forgive this effrontery, and used it as motivation to not only lead Derby to the title, but to try to best Revie at every possibility.

When Revie was named coach of England’s national team, a variety of circumstances, many to do with Clough’s ego, led to his being named the new coach at Leeds United. lt was an unpopular choice with many, particularly Revie. It became even more unpopular when Clough, attempting to wipe away all vestiges of Revie’s influence on the United squad, disparaged Leeds’ previous style of play, a physical, somewhat thuggish brand of football unbecoming to the ‘Beautiful Game’. When he tried to put his own system in, the Leeds players, loyal to Revie, rejected it, and Clough. His inability to win, and the players’ complaints to the team board of directors, led to Clough’s being fired after 44 days, an astounding failure and embarrassment which shocked the league.

Sheen is tremendous in the role, imbuing Clough with the sort of cocksure, blinkered self-confidence that is equally invigorating and alienating. There is nothing mannered in his performance, and the amount of pleasure Sheen takes in playing such a loutish man is apparent in every scene. Meaney gives appropriate weight to Revie, a powerful man in the sport who delights in seeing Clough fail, and Spall gives his usual fine performance as the ‘man behind the man’. The film, itself, maintains its focus solely on the main story, flitting back and forth between Clough’s early days in Derby, and his final days in Leeds. The necessary 1970’s look is never overly stylized, beyond a few loud jackets and louder moustachs, and the entire endeavor has the feel of a well-done BBC drama.

I would love to see an American spin on this tale, documenting the life of Billy Martin, the long-time nianager of several baseball teams. Martin, like Clough, was a petty and self-aggrandizing man who used his own insecurities to garner great successes, and often even greater failures. I know just the man to play him, too. Michael Sheen. – [DVD]

Biography/Drama/Sport

Rated R

DVD Release Date: 2/24/10