Film Review - The Damned United

*****Films about football are rarely successful. Often they are beset by a lack of realism, uber cliched plot lines or merely the appearance of Sylvester Stallone. Thankfully, much like the character it portrays, this film revels in breaking the mould.

As in the book, the movie follows legendary football manager Brian Clough's 44 days in charge of Leeds United whilst interspersing the narrative with that of his previous tenure at Derby County Football Club. There, in partnership with assistant Peter Taylor, he would take a small club in a provincial town from the bottom of the 2nd Division to the 1st Division Championship.

In the 'present' we join him on his first day in the top job with Leeds, a side already champions and still loyal to their long standing and recently departed manager Don Revie. Needless to say, they are less than enamoured with the outspoken new man intent on turning the team from what, in his eyes, is a dirty, play acting, cheating group, into a disciplined side who play fair and appreciate the beautiful game as Clough admirably believes it is meant to be played.

That's the historical background then, but in fact the genius of this film, is that 'in the background' is exactly where the football remains.

We are treated instead to the highs and lows of the pairs relationship, each of whom bring their own skills to the table - Taylor with a hawk-eye for the right kind of player and Clough with an exceptional man management ability.

More than the game itself, we gain an insight into the ego's, the mentality and psychology of success, not just in football but in any industry where winning is everything. The fine line between self-belief and arrogance, ambition and obsession, is dealt with artfully whilst still being heart warming and at times very funny.

Michael Sheen masters the essence of Clough with ease. The glint in his eye, the wry grin and the fierce rivalry with his nemesis Don Revie, but also the self-doubt especially when over-hearing the players criticism outside the dressing room door after another Leeds defeat.

Timothy Spall as Peter Taylor is the consummate safe pair of hands. Lovable and long suffering, his role is essential in providing a moral conscience and he alone convinces Clough, the most single minded and stubborn of characters, to see the error of his ways. The final scene where the two are reunited is touching, if unlikely to based in reality.

Hold the back page then, this is a football film that works! Not by attempting to capture the thrill of watching a fantastic goal scored, which could never be enjoyed in film as in life, but by focusing on the humanity of sport, the excitement of success against the odds and the escape that the glory of victory can bring.

For all of these joys we should certainly show gratitude to the late, great, Brian Howard Clough.