Village of the Damned (The Damned United (DVD))

Member Name: adambrown400

Product:	The Damned United (DVD)
Date:	26/09/09 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great central performance

Disadvantages: not enough Meaney!

I'm not a massive fan of football and know very little about it, so when a film comes out that manages to mix football and drama together I would be initially quite reticent about watching it. Luckily enough this film combines the two exceptionally well and was a fantastic watch.

Starring the excellent 'The Rory Bremner of English Cinema' (Copyright JJJJ) Michael Sheen in the title role and a host a familiar British film stars. The Damned United tells the story of Brian Clough and his move into the managers position at Leeds United. Clough has paid his dues at small town Derby FC whom he manages to take all the way from the bottom of the old second division into the first. The rivalry (sometimes imagined) between Clough and Don Revie (Colm Meaney) is the main focal point of the film rather than the football game itself. Revie has left Leeds for the England job, and Clough manages to be the next man to take on Leeds, but can he do it without the help of his right hand man Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall)?

For a film about the business football you might imagine it to be a little boring if you aren't into the game itself. I think you will be pleasantly surprised that this film is intensely gripping, I mean who would have thought and interview between David Friost and Richard Nixon would make such a great film?

The central performance by Michael Sheen is fantastic. It just goes to show what an amazing actor he is fast becoming, starring as characters as diverse as blood sucking vampires to Tony Blair (then saying that...) However, Sheen is very believable as the manager with a serious chip on his shoulder and does the man proud. Timothy Spall as Peter Taylor is also very good and the two make a very convincing team throughout the film.

I would have liked to seen more of Star Trek's Colm Meaney as the mythical Don Revie but that is such a small gripe in a film like this. Its so good to see Jim Broadbent again in another great film, but also refreshing to watch a British film that doesn't star Julie Walters!

The direction too is excellent with a very believable 70's backdrops. Everything feels a little 'Life on Mars', which is fine by me. Its so good to see British cinema doing well again and not relying on costume dramas.

Anyway, I think everyone will enjoy The Damned United and urge you all to track it down immediately!

Summary: Great film