Plenty to amuse all in ‘The Damned United’

Michael Sheen has cornered the market in portraying famous – or infamous – Englishmen and here he teams up with writer Peter Morgan who penned ‘The Queen’ (in which Sheen played Tony Blair) and ‘Frost/Nixon’ (ditto David Frost) to bring us that most individual of football managers Brian Clough.

Director: Tom Hooper

Cast: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent

Sheen has cornered the market in portraying famous – or infamous – Englishmen and here he teams up with writer Peter Morgan who penned ‘The Queen’ (in which Sheen played Tony Blair) and ‘Frost/Nixon’ (ditto David Frost) to bring us that most individual of football managers Brian Clough.

It is another remarkable portrayal by Sheen, who consistently manages the seemingly impossible task of actually looking like the people he plays. He makes a quite wonderful Old Big ‘Ead.

The film, while taking some liberties with the truth, covers the ill-fated 44 days Clough spent managing Leeds United and the time he managed their rivals Derby County. The strength of the film lies solidly in the fact that you don’t have to be a football fan to enjoy it, it’s about the man himself rather than anything else.

Clough was a special one long before Jose fetched up at Chelsea, he was a character, he was able to drag quite ordinary teams to the peaks of greatness … except at Leeds. And it’s all here: warts and all.

A special mention must go to Meaney who plays Clough’s great rival Don Revie, the man he replaced at Leeds and with whom he conducted a bitter rivalry.

The film is full of wry, Cloughian humour and the least football-loving will thoroughly delight in it.

Star Rating: 4/5