THE DAMNED UNITED
UK, 2009, 97 minutes, Colour.
Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Jim Broadbent, Colm Meaney, Stephen Graham, Maurice Roeves, Peter Mc Donald, Martin Compston.
Directed by Tom Hooper.
No problems for English audiences as long as they have a good knowledge of football and football history (which they tend to). A first problem for a non-English audience is wondering who is the United team, anyway. In recent history, it has been Manchester United which has been at the top. But this damned United is not Manchester. So, for the non-initiated, it is Leeds United who were the champions in the late 1960s, early 1970s.
With the identity problem out of the way, we next face the problem of Brian Clough. Once again the English know who the subject of the film is (the way that Americans know instantly the baseball champions whose lives are transferred to the screen when the rest of the world is none the wiser). Well, after watching The Damned United (and it is certainly a film that many will find worth watching), we know who Brian Clough was – and are fascinated that a man you probably would not particularly want to meet had such an impact on the game.
So, this is what the film is: a portrait of Brian Clough.
Since he is played by Michael Sheen, that in itself is a recommendation these days. In recent years, Sheen has excelled as Tony Blair (The Deal, The Queen), as David Frost (Frost/Nixon), as Kenneth Williams (Fantabulosa) – and as Lucian the head of the Lycans in the Underworld series! Once again, Sheen creates a distinctive personality. And, once again, he is speaking lines written by Peter Morgan (The Deal, The Queen, Longford, The Other Boleyn Girl, Frost/Nixon). This is quite a powerful combination.
Based on a novel by David Peace (The Red Riding books), Morgan illustrates Clough's character by showing him taking over as manager of Leeds United after years of envy of them and their coach Don Revie (Colm Meaney excellent in the role) who has been appointed England manager. The screenplay keeps going back to the late 60s with Clough's amazing achievement of bringing Derby Country from the third division to the first. He works with assistant Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall also excellent) who has a talent for recognising good players. Clough goes over the head of the chairman of the Club (Jim Broadbent in another excellent performance) in recruiting players.
But Clough has a huge ego, has a loud mouth, is consumed by ambition to beat Revie who had ignored him at a match. He antagonises the Derby Board, clashes with Peter Taylor and, on arrival at Leeds, finds no co-operation with the players who are still loyal to Revie.
There is enough drama here to interest non-footballers as well as the fans. The performances are worth seeing and the downfall (all his own fault) of a man with talent and potential makes one reflect.
1.A film for English audiences? Football audiences? World audiences?
2.A film about personalities, personality clash, management, ambitions?
3.The atmosphere of the 1960s and 70s with United Kingdom soccer, the defeat in the World Cup? The role of managers, clubs, the competitions, the fans, the cities and sport?
4.The period, the use of contemporary footage, making the film like the footage? Clothes, hair, cars? Television interviews?
5.The structure of the film: the focus on the 1970s, Brian Clough and his appointment to Leeds United? The flashbacks to his career in the late 60s? The fall and rise of Brian Clough? The comments on him and his work? The inconsistencies, the ironies, failure?
6.The focus on Don Revie? His role as manager of Leeds, his way of dealing with the press, interviews? The naming of his successor and his being the England manager? His reaction to Brian Clough? The phone calls, the meetings of the board, anger? The antipathy between Clough and Revie? The history of Revie’s team, their great success, the focus on the draw and Clough’s delight to be playing Leeds? The match, the preparations, Revie ignoring Clough? The enmity on Clough’s side? Revie and his tactics – and the accusations of cheating? The players and their extreme loyalty to Revie? As a manager, the discussions with Clough, the press, the phone calls in the night, the arguments, the final television interview and his superiority over Clough? The final information – his going to the Middle East, suspicions of his management and accusations?
7.Brian Clough, Michael Sheen’s screen presence and performance? The arrival at Leeds, the announcement of his being the manager, with the children in the car, going to the grounds, arriving late, the children and their interest, his wife coming to Leeds? His entrance and his introduction to the players? His wanting everything to be his show? The men, their behaviour, their lack of loyalty to him? His being imperious, his past in Derby? The draw, the excitement, playing Leeds, the rain, Revie and his superstition of walking from the vehicle to the grounds? His being ignored by Revie? His talk to the Leeds players, cutting off the past, not wanting any of Revie’s influence? His abilities or not as a manager? Leeds and the continued losing, the talk, the management and their dissatisfaction? His badmouthing the board? The players and his focus on the captain, reliance, his criticisms of Johnny Giles, the Irishman? His moods, the opportunities, finally alone and alienated?
8.The portrait of Peter Taylor, Timothy Spall’s presence, a good man, loyalty to Derbyshire, loyalty to Brian? The discussions, the club and its progress, his advice, his eye for successful players, his influencing Brian and Brian’s going to meet the players, in London, bringing them in? The clash between Taylor and Clough? Taylor not wanting to be outspoken against the Derbyshire management? Being persuaded by Clough, losing his job? Their going to Brighton, his house, his wife, the regular life and his relishing it? His decision to stay in Brighton?
9.The picture of the players, their background, hard work, winning, Leeds and the cheating issue? Rough playing? The captain, the individuals? The Irishman and his chip? The young men from Derbyshire? The failure under Clough, no loyalty?
10.Brian Clough and his family, his relationship with his wife, children? His work in Derby, his success, getting Derby through the ranks, the decision to go to Leeds which he disliked?
11.Derbyshire, the draw, hopes, Clough and his background, the matches, the determination, the collage of their rising through the ranks? His drinking – and a later problem?
12.Clough and the failure in Leeds, the phone call to Peter Taylor, the visit, after his dismissal, the old friendship, the reconciliation, the melodrama of his apology? His continued work with Taylor over the years and success?
13.The confrontation with Don Revy on the television, his being toppled, his being humiliated?
14.Clough and his pride, ambition, his lack of people skills, his self-confidence, his football skills or not?
15.Clough’s loud mouth, his attitude towards the Derbyshire board, not telling the board about his scouting and the payments, the clash with Sam Longson, the head of the board? The matches, his not taking the advice, Longson and his ability to see the overall picture, Clough’s failure, the loss of the match in the rain? The board and their lack of tolerance after such attacks? Letting him go? Clough and his trying to settle into Brighton, the phone call from Leeds United, his instant decision, not contacting Peter Taylor?
16.The history of English football? The place of Brian Clough, his subsequent career and success, media, his drinking and death? Peter Taylor, his abilities, his untimely death?
17.The success of the film as a biopic, as a study of a character, as a portrait of sport, as a personal tragedy – with comic touches?
