Critique: Film> Reviews.

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one."

-- Brian Clough (Michael Sheen)

It'd be interesting to see who comes out as the winner in a most hated poll between controversial ex-football manager Brian Clough and fallen giants Leeds United, considering that critics and opposing fans have expressed their hatred for both down the years. And whereas The Damned United -- a film which depicts Clough's 44-day employment at the club -- will hardly drastically alter people's opinions on either of the subjects, it is still an incredibly involving [British] drama that warrants the attention of anyone interested in football.

The same can be said of the book by David Peace, from which the film's story is based upon. Despite friends and family reacting angrily to the author's depiction of Clough's erratic train of thought, it really is a fascinating, semi-fictionalised account of one of the sport's most popular figures. Tom Hooper's film doesn't portray Clough in as such a bleak manner as the novel does, but it still keeps its edge.

Back in the 1974, former Sunderland striker and outspoken manager of Derby County, Brian Clough, (Michael Sheen) was offered the job at England's top team Leeds United. This came at a great surprise to everyone, considering that he was a fierce critic of the team's style of play under ex-manager Don Revie. Leeds went on to win only one of Clough's six games in charge and ending up being forth from bottom of the First Division. His contract was terminated after just 44 days.

The film provides an interesting insight into Clough's struggling managerial reign at Leeds. We witness Old Big ‘Ed (as he sometimes was called) telling famous stars like Bremner, Giles and Hunter to throw away their medals because they only won them by cheating. But we also notice motives for Clough's bitterness going back to his days as manager of Derby; and, in particular, a match where his team played against Revie's Leeds in the Cup. After the game, Clough takes offence when the great Don Revie walks by him not bothering to shake his hand. Such instance is raised by Clough during a famous interview on Yorkshire Television towards the end of the film, which at last brings him face-to-face with his long-standing rival.

Despite The Damned United being commonly referred to as a "Sports Film", this is ultimately a Psychological Thriller with hints of Black Comedy. There is some football action, of course, but it's downplayed for the performances off the pitch. Director Tom Hooper does a great job at setting the grim, industrial Northern backdrop as a theatrical stage for his actors to shine; fans that've studied Clough's interviews and lived through the '70s will no doubt start to feel very nostalgic about it all.

Sheen really is quite brilliant at playing Clough: His facial expressions and vocal tones are incredibly convincing. And for all of Clough's jealously and hatred for fan-favourite Don Revie, Sheen manages to create a sense of likeability within his anti-hero, inspiring others to look deeper into his mindset. Colm Meaney (Con Air, Layer Cake) brings a strong screen presence to the role of Don Revie, impressively working against Sheen's egotistical performance, giving an obvious impression of a heated rivalry. Timothy Spall is also very good as Clough's long-time assistant Peter Taylor; there's obvious chemistry between him and Sheen during the key moments their two spend together discussing their individual ambitions, and the film reaches its high point when the two characters are side-by-side or paring off with one another. And finally, not forgetting Jim Broadbent as Sam Longson, the Derby County chairman, obstinately refusing Clough getting his own way.

The only real letdown that I can think of is the film's portrayal of inspirational midfielder and captain, Billy Bremner (This Is England’s Stephen Graham), who comes across as a cheat, which won't please Leeds fans (myself included).

Overall, though, this is primarily a film about Clough and it's high on entertainment value. Generally, it doesn't bother me too much how closely a film sticks to its source material, just as long as I get enjoyment out of what I'm watching; and despite the controversy surrounding what is fact and what is fiction in the book and film, the depiction of Clough's life is still incredibly compelling in both mediums. I'm not picky enough to whine too much about differences between the two; my advice to everyone would be to just experience them both for yourselves. The Damned United really is quite an extraordinary story.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2009.