The Damned United (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Film C

  
  Im not into football movies at all and i will avoid them as much as possible but it takes one football movie to star Michael Sheen to actually get me to watch this movie and much to my surprise i actually enjoyed this movie. Its entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable and is actually… More
  Im not into football movies at all and i will avoid them as much as possible but it takes one football movie to star Michael Sheen to actually get me to watch this movie and much to my surprise i actually enjoyed this movie. Its entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable and is actually highyly amusing. Worth a watch and like me it may change your minds about movies focused on football!

• Anthony L

  
  I'm not much of a football fan but there's no denying it's a sport full of fascinating characters, Brian Clough being one of the more colourful. Tom Hooper's direction is great, the attention to detail compositionsion of every shot is beautifully shot. The acting… More
  I'm not much of a football fan but there's no denying it's a sport full of fascinating characters, Brian Clough being one of the more colourful. Tom Hooper's direction is great, the attention to detail compositionsion of every shot is beautifully shot. The acting is also very good from all of the cast, although Timothy Spall looks nothing like Peter Taylor but I suppose it doesn't matter too much, he still did a great job. This might befavouriterate sports film, although it really doesn't feel like one.

• Alireza M

  
  An underrated british movie.Since it's about football its intresting and entertaining.Like other Peter Morgan's screenplays ,stoyline is short and simple and has mostly focused on details and is more concerned to be faithful to historic events

• Dean M

  
  This is damned good true story of British coach football Brian Clough as well as a bravura performance from Michael Sheen and a faithful, intelligent screenplay by Peter Morgan combine with a well chosen storyline to deliver a convincing tale. This film is not about football game,… More
  This is damned good true story of British coach football Brian Clough as well as a bravura performance from Michael Sheen and a faithful, intelligent screenplay by Peter Morgan combine with a well chosen storyline to deliver a convincing tale. This film is not about football game, it's uses football as a framework for ambition, greed, success, failure, friendship and love. Timothy Spall gives a good performance of light and shade as "behind every great man" Peter Taylor, Brian's right-hand man, but the effect of his performance is weakened by his looking completely unlike his real-life prototype. No problems on that score with Colm Meaney as Don Revie (apart from a lack of height!), who nails Revie's distinctive accent to a "T".

• Jay H

  
  A very poignant, well-acted memoir of Brian Clough's 1974 stint as manager of Leeds United, this film succeeds in nearly every aspect. There is little to be found wrong with this film.

• Stephen M

  
  Since it would be difficult to conceive of a more affectionate portrait of Brian Clough than the one presented here, one wonders why the Clough family were so opposed to <I>The Damned United</I>'s production. Yes, it's heavily romanticised and stretches the truth… More
  Since it would be difficult to conceive of a more affectionate portrait of Brian Clough than the one presented here, one wonders why the Clough family were so opposed to <I>The Damned United</I>'s production. Yes, it's heavily romanticised and stretches the truth for dramatic and/or comedic effect - in particular, by implying that Clough left Brighton and Hove Albion for his disastrous 44 day tenure as Leeds United manager while the ink was still wet on his Albion contract - but, excepting a certain Scottish midfielder who sued the production company over his representation in the film, nobody would ever mistake this for a serious biopic. Though it's not nearly as frivolous, <I>The Damned United</I> is best approached as the <I>24 Hour Party People</I> of football movies, a hugely entertaining blurring of fact and fiction in celebration of a lovable egomaniac. Michael Sheen is marvellous as Old Big 'Ed with Timothy Spall (Peter Taylor, Clough's assistant manager), Jim Broadbent (Sam Longson, Derby County chairman) and Colm Meaney (Don Revie, Clough's nemesis) providing excellent support. I deducted half a star for the gratuitous digs at Revie in the epilogue.

• Jake .

  
  Michael Sheen is talented and adorable. I'm not shallow as to rate a film well on those term alone, but still. Just saying... I'm impressed with what a diverse selection of characters he has played.: Lucian in Underworld, Tony Blair in The Queen, Aro in New Moon, The White… More
  Michael Sheen is talented and adorable. I'm not shallow as to rate a film well on those term alone, but still. Just saying... I'm impressed with what a diverse selection of characters he has played.: Lucian in Underworld, Tony Blair in The Queen, Aro in New Moon, The White Rabbit in Alice, David Frost in Frost/Nixon, and now Brian Clough. To be perfectly honest, I had never heard of the coach, but apparently he was someone worth knowing. I'm genereally not that fond of sports movies (or the sports themselves) but this really is incredibly good. Timothy Spall just looks right in the 70s. Who would have ever guessed? Written by Peter Morgan, and very, very similar to his work in The Queen. While is film is very fun and entertaining, it is not something to be remembered forever. It really will not make you think or feel anything at all. I'm actually not totally sure that it had any kind of a point, but maybe that is part of the brilliance. A certain charm and appeal comes with the lack of an obvious message or agenda. At any rate, the film is sweet and charming, very likable all around, and that alone goes a long ways. <br/> <br/>I'm also rather fond of the closing: "Brian Clough was the best manager that the Leeds never had." That was a bit of a paraphrase, but the gist is the same.

• Morgan S

  
  I just love Michael Sheen! He is becoming one of my new Favorite actors! Every role he is in He commits 1000% A Great, very interesting true story about a very intersting and not nessacarily likable man. Once again I love Michael Sheen and this was his movie all the way. Well Done.… More
  I just love Michael Sheen! He is becoming one of my new Favorite actors! Every role he is in He commits 1000% A Great, very interesting true story about a very intersting and not nessacarily likable man. Once again I love Michael Sheen and this was his movie all the way. Well Done. SEE IT!

• Lanning :

  
  It's odd, but every time I see a movie heavily focused on soccer/football, it's always even better than I'd hoped. Not being very knowledgeable about football/soccer, I never know exactly what I may be getting myself into, but one after another, I'm very impressed… More
  It's odd, but every time I see a movie heavily focused on soccer/football, it's always even better than I'd hoped. Not being very knowledgeable about football/soccer, I never know exactly what I may be getting myself into, but one after another, I'm very impressed by films such as <i>Bend It Like Beckham, Green Street Hooligans,</i> or even <i>She's the Man</i> -- I mean all of the film, including especially the soccer/football angle. Maybe I should have played this sport? : )<p>I did not know who the legendary Brian Clough was, but I'd read enticing comments about this intriguing biopic. It's plainly fictionalized, I'm sure -- the shape of this portion of this amazing man's life is too literary in form, although how far afield from hard fact it might stray, I could not guess. Suffice it to say that the good folks involved in this project are very successful at painting a fascinating portrait of Clough. I am very glad I took a chance on this one, and Michael Sheen is definitely a great find for me. This is well worth watching, even if, like me, you know very little about football/soccer.<p>By the way, I don't know how you all might feel about the "special features" on DVDs. Me? Most likely I find them not so special. All the special features on this DVD, however, are interesting. I especially like the way they contextualize the deleted scenes, the instance of the two deleted scenes for the same scene in particular. Great stuff, all of the special features, and very informative.

• Gordon A

  
  Efficient Brit drama about the rise-fall-rise of Brian Clough which struggles to exceed its nostalgic charm and parochial limitations but not because of the ever impressive Sheen who embodies another larger than life character with aplomb.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"They love me for what I'm not... ...they hate me for what I am."</i> A look at Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of Leeds United. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u>… More
  <i>"They love me for what I'm not... ...they hate me for what I am."</i> A look at Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of Leeds United. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u> </b></font></center> "The best football coach the England team never had." So goes the last line of the best sports film you never saw. Or maybe I can change that condition by urging you to see one of the best recent sports films, better than current favorites such as We are Marshall and Gridiron Gang. Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) rose in the late sixties and early seventies to become coach of the premiere British football (soccer) team in England. But his tenure lasted an ignominious 44 days. Director Tom Hopper skillfully navigates parallel scenes: 1974, when Clough was made coach of Leeds, back through the years from his coaching the little Darby team to Leeds. And beyond. What makes this film so unusual is the uncompromising portrayal of that flawed coach with his ambition, ego, inferior complex, and, of course, his genius with football. Or I should I say with choosing Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall) as his assistant, a bowling pin shape of a man gifted with insight about players' strengths and a perfect complement to the abrasive Clough. However, if the film is flawed it makes apparent Taylor's humanity and never reveals, except with locker room pep talks, the humanity Clough must have had to lead so many teams to greatness. The actual playing, both original footage and reenacted version, occupies a relatively small part of the film because the emphasis is on character, primarily Clough and Taylor, who border on "bromance," but also minor characters such as Darby club president, Uncle Sam (Jim Broadbent) and rival coach, Don Revie (Colm Meany). Everyone is in character, so when the real people show up in the usual credit roll at the end, you could easily pick out the actor to match, so close even in appearance. Because this tale tells mainly about the Clough flaws that lead to his disgrace, The Damned United is uncompromisingly, sometimes painfully, real in the most satisfactory way. Even though Clough lost, the film wins. But wait, the suspense continues because the credit sequence will tell you the next act in Brian Clough's career. Second acts fit honest films like this.

• Mike N

  
  Nothing particularly mind-blowing going on here; just a really solid, pretty high-quality piece of entertainment. It also has that one guy from Snatch playing a douchey soccer player. Anyway, Michael Sheen plays his strengths well here as the ambitious ego-run-amok soccer coach,… More
  Nothing particularly mind-blowing going on here; just a really solid, pretty high-quality piece of entertainment. It also has that one guy from Snatch playing a douchey soccer player. Anyway, Michael Sheen plays his strengths well here as the ambitious ego-run-amok soccer coach, Brian Clough, of Derby county and, of course, Leeds United. The film's main focus is Clough's meteoric rise to the upper crust of British soccer coaching royalty from the perpetual underdog Derby County FC to Leeds, and the relationships he de-prioritized in his ascent - particularly that of his longtime partner and friend Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall). The plot itself conveys a familiar lesson, but it's the brashness of Sheen, the savvy edting in building Clough up as a sympathetic yet tremendously flawed character to lend depth to the scenes where he's a complete ass, and keeping the emotional core of the relationships in tact made The Damned United a very respectable, tidily-entertaining piece of work.

• Jeff T

  
  The best sports movie of the year is about a UK soccer coach in the '70's. I know next to nothing about soccer, and after seeing the movie I know next to nothing more, but I know a lot about a fascinating person and his relationships with power, fame and friends. Michael… More
  The best sports movie of the year is about a UK soccer coach in the '70's. I know next to nothing about soccer, and after seeing the movie I know next to nothing more, but I know a lot about a fascinating person and his relationships with power, fame and friends. Michael Sheen leads the roster of what seems like every British character man except Michael Gambon. Peter Morgan contributes his best screeplay to date, finally finding a way to take his biographic approach to writing and tie it to real drama. And the arresting and subtle direction of Tom Hopper may be the real star; taking what could be a dry longshot-closeup type of story and constantly teasing the eye with composition that tells story, he's made an incredibly entertaining film from what could have been just another . . . um . . . soccer movie. You know... All those soccer movies...

• Walter M

  
  "The Damned United" starts in 1974 as the English national soccer team has failed to qualify for the World Cup. Fearing this might be a sign of the apocalypse, Don Revie(Colm Meaney), the manager for thirteen years of mighty Leeds United, is appointed to the task. In his… More
  "The Damned United" starts in 1974 as the English national soccer team has failed to qualify for the World Cup. Fearing this might be a sign of the apocalypse, Don Revie(Colm Meaney), the manager for thirteen years of mighty Leeds United, is appointed to the task. In his formidable wake, Brian Clough(Michael Sheen) is hired and is working for the first time without his friend and assistant Peter Taylor(Timothy Spall). Even before he gets properly settled into his job, Clough antagonizes the faithful by attacking Revie in a television interview. Theirs is a rivalry that dates back to 1968 when Clough was managing Derby County, a lowly second division team, who gets Leeds United in a fateful draw in the third round of the FA Cup. Based on a true story, "The Damned United" is an excellent, well-acted and smart character study that also has quite a lot to say on the nature of sports and what is needed to win. Unlike most other sports movies what is important here is failure, not success, and that might be explained in this particular example by Clough's hubris and lack of humility. In any team sport, it is never about any one person, whether that be a position player or even a manager or a coach. So whether Clough was given a fair opportunity at Leeds is debatable and it is always tough to follow a legend but he did himself no favors.(Also beware anybody who holds grudges for a long time.) Along the same lines, the eternal debate about whether nice guys always finish last is not settled as any success in the film comes from unsportsmanlike conduct like Leeds' rough play(one player even punches out another in a game) and Clough's signing two key players in underhanded fashion, even going over the head of his chairman(Jim Broadbent) in doing so. As hard as it may be to admit, maybe it is only the results that matter.

• Theta S

  
  The year is 1974 and Leeds United have a vacancy for the manager's job after Don Revie becomes the new England manager. Their choice - Bryan Clough, former manager of Derby County. This film charts Clough's colourful career in football management from Derby's… More
  The year is 1974 and Leeds United have a vacancy for the manager's job after Don Revie becomes the new England manager. Their choice - Bryan Clough, former manager of Derby County. This film charts Clough's colourful career in football management from Derby's fateful FA Cup match against Leeds in 1968, his rivalry and obsession with Don Revie, his fall from grace at Derby County and his ill fated 41 day tenure as manager of Leeds United. SPOILERS AHEAD ============================================================= This colourful film was directed by Tom Hooper, who went on to direct a little film called "The King's Speech" and a great job he makes of it too. He takes this dark tale of rivalry and obsession and, along with scriptwriter Peter Morgan, injects some humour and warmth into the film. This couldn't be done though without the charismatic performance by Michael Sheen as Clough. For those who saw Brian Clough's on pitch and media persona when he was alive, they can see that Sheen's performance is note perfect with all of Clough's bravado, razzamatazz and showmanship translating on to the screen. On the flipside, Sheen also portrays the flipside of Clough's supposed character flaws of rivalry, obsession and ambition in equal and sympathetic measure. His main co-lead in the film is Timothy Spall in the role of Peter Taylor, Clough's assistant manager. There is a comedic and dramatic timing between Sheen and Spall which borders on the phrase "bromance". The characters share the highs and lows of their successes and failures, and whilst they admire one another's skills, they are also shown to have disagreements with each other - specifically when Clough hands in their joint resignation at Derby County and when Clough leaves Taylor in the lurch by breaking an agreement with another club to manage Leeds on his own. Additional main supporting cast include Colm Meaney delivering a dignified performance in the role of Don Revie and Jim Broadbent in the role of Sam Longson, Derby County's chairman who doesn't appreciate Clough going over his head to sign players. Whether you understand the English football system or not, The Damned United is an entertaining study of ambition, obsession and friendship.

• Lesley N

  
  My dad took me to see Brighton in the Brian Clough days so I was always going to like this film, as would anyone who remembered the unique blend of gobbiness and vulnerability of Cloughy in his football manager days. Even if he doesn't much look much like him except round the… More
  My dad took me to see Brighton in the Brian Clough days so I was always going to like this film, as would anyone who remembered the unique blend of gobbiness and vulnerability of Cloughy in his football manager days. Even if he doesn't much look much like him except round the ears, Michael Sheen completes his e trilogy after David Frost - Tony Blair trilogy by bringing back to life a man who infuriated and entertained in 100% equal measures. And hooray for that.

• Alec B

  
  Football (or soccer as it is called here) awakens a kind of religious fervor in other countries that I will never understand. Therefore any film about the sport in other countries has higher stakes than any American sports film because of the pressure it exerts over the main… More
  Football (or soccer as it is called here) awakens a kind of religious fervor in other countries that I will never understand. Therefore any film about the sport in other countries has higher stakes than any American sports film because of the pressure it exerts over the main characters. My knowledge of the spot and all the teams in England is nonexistent at best, but the film does give you a basic understanding of a very specific time, place and a man in English football. The performance of Michael Sheen is nothing short of brilliant, as much of his work has been. The film could flesh out its supporting characters in more depth, but its good to see a sports movie about people and not just the game itself.

• matt s

  
  Michael Sheen is great. I recommend this flick and agree with everything Alex said. Don't read my review, OK GUYS?! GAH

• Jonny C

  
  Interesting biopic of one of English footballs greatest managers. It takes a look at Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of Leeds United, with further flashbacks at is time at Derby County before his appointment. With a strong enjoyable central performance from Michael Sheen… More
  Interesting biopic of one of English footballs greatest managers. It takes a look at Brian Clough's 44-day reign as the coach of Leeds United, with further flashbacks at is time at Derby County before his appointment. With a strong enjoyable central performance from Michael Sheen and a recognisable supporting cast, nice production and clever usage of archive footage, The Damned United is well worth your consideration.

• Jason R

  
  The true story of Brian Clough, whose stubbornness and unwillingness to follow anyone's rules but his own, made him one of the most colorful and greatest Football coaches in England's history. Michael Sheen is such an outstanding actor and this showcases his talents very… More
  The true story of Brian Clough, whose stubbornness and unwillingness to follow anyone's rules but his own, made him one of the most colorful and greatest Football coaches in England's history. Michael Sheen is such an outstanding actor and this showcases his talents very well, he is absolutely amazing in The Damned United. Acting along side Sheen in an equally great performance is Timothy Spall who is about as diverse of an actor as you can get, and he always churns out a great performance in everything he is in. A great movie, and a definite must see!

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