This British movie is based on the famous novel by David Peace with the same name, the Damned United. This movie is directed by a new British director Tom Hooper. The novel and the movie both are based on the late football manager Brian Clough and the brief stint of 44 days where he was the in-charge of the Leeds united in the seventies. The character is of Clough is played by Sheen. The story shows how the efforts made by Clough rise up the minnow sides like the Derby County to the Division One champions. However he always remained in the shade of the boss of Leeds, Don Revie.
As compared to the novel, there is a cordial approach to Clough. The movie is written by Peter Morgan and shows how after triumphing over Derby County, Clough failed to replace the in-charge of new England boss Don Revie. This movie shows the life of Clough as a buddy movie, where Clough and his assistant Peter Taylor, which is played by Timothy Spall, are the buddies.
The film shows how these two men were totally different from each other. Clough was indulgent, vain, very boastful and icily comic. On the other side Taylor is showed to be magnanimous, decent and does not have big ambitions like his boss.
This film has successfully portrayed the dingy disintegration that hovered over football and the muddy pitches in the 70’s. Then the players ran up till the terrace in loops and considered this training. Very commonly players were seen smoking during and even before the matches. Sheen has very well personified the ambitious and dream catcher character of Clough. The extraordinary scene which shows the first meeting of Clough with the championship winning Leeds players is simply a delight to the eyes. This follows the exit of their manager, Don Revie who was adored. But the absence of any women characters is a risk that the movie has taken. Overall, it has been entertaining and has warmth and wit throughout.
