X
- 2009
- R
- Sony Pictures Releasing
- 1 h 38 m
- 2009
- R
- Sony Pictures Releasing
- 1 h 38 m
Summary Set in 1960’s and 1970’s England, The Damned United tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough’s doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football Leeds United. Previously managed by his bitter rival Don Revie, and on the back of their most successful period ever as a football club, Le...
Directed By: Tom Hooper
Written By: Peter Morgan, David Peace
- 2009
- R
- Sony Pictures Releasing
- 1 h 38 m
- 2009
- R
- Sony Pictures Releasing
- 1 h 38 m
The Damned United
7.2
Where to Watch
Summary Set in 1960’s and 1970’s England, The Damned United tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough’s doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football Leeds United. Previously managed by his bitter rival Don Revie, and on the back of their most successful period ever as a football club, Le...
Directed By: Tom Hooper
Written By: Peter Morgan, David Peace
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
81
93% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
7% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
81
93% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
7% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
It's more than a detailed account of one man's petty vindictiveness in a bygone era. It's about how our hatred can consume us so deeply that we lose sight of everything.
The rare sports movie that deals with -- indeed positively relishes -- humiliation and disappointment.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 55 User Ratings
7.2
76% Positive
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
13% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
11% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 55 User Ratings
7.2
76% Positive
42 Ratings
42 Ratings
13% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
11% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
I've been putting off watching this for about 3 years or so. That's because I thought this would be a routine sports flick; and although I was obsessed with football at some point in my life, I'm not really into it anymore. It turned out this film is not about football per se; it's about ego. An interest in ego is all you need to watch this. This is a study in human ego made by diving into the psychology of a notorious character. We get to witness his ego emerging, exacerbating, ebbing and then bursting to completely destroy him.
A story of a one-of-a-kind friendship: a bromance of a maternal quality. This is also a profoundly intriguing story about rivalry that I wasn't surprised to find out it's written by Rush screenwriter, Peter Morgan, who dissected it in a brilliant time-shifting narrative that wouldn't be as great if it wasn't for Michael Sheen's committed performance that only with a hint of maturity managed to separate a character in the midst of self-sabotaging himself in the past and one who suffering misfortune because of his hamartia in the present. Tom Hooper's direction is understated yet exquisite, and Morgan's script is old-fashioned yet intelligently written and highly well-constructed. The only issue I have with this is that it's very concerned with its plot almost to a fault. Mind, the characters are more than fleshed-out, but that's not the problem here. The thing is, we often see the characters talking within the context. That ـــespecially with the time-shiftingـــ led to moments where the characters literally name a turning point in the story. This is a nit-pick, though. A bloody midget!
(9/10)
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Sheen is startlingly good here, and so is Timothy Spall as Clough's trusted and much abused lieutenant.
Hardly the heady stuff of "Frost/Nixon"--or then again, maybe exactly the same thing. This one’s more rude and fun.
Hooper, the director, doesn’t include lots of amazing football sequences to upstage his star. He just moves everyone out of Sheen’s way. It’s about time.
Director Tom Hooper ("John Adams") ably balances the games (surprisingly little football footage, actually), the personalities and the drama.
Like a skill player who just can't score, The Damned United is all dazzle and no finish and, ultimately, damned frustrating.
Not only the best football film ever, but also one of the best films of 2009. Admittedly, football fans will get a lot more out of it than non-believers, but anyone can appreciate the very well done script (though sometimes a bit off) and excellent performances. Not a big, blockbuster drama about blue men, but at least this has something to keep your attention. With a certain film also out this year that was a case of style over substance, The Damned United delivers a solid, realistic and genuinely great film.
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Overall, The Damned United is a good film. Great performances from Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall, as well as assured direction from Tom Hooper ensure that The Damned United always stays entirely riveting and fulfilling. It feels a bit short at just a little over 90 minutes, but all the same, I would not change much here. It may not be the most historically accurate film ever, but watching Clough's career unfold was incredibly dramatic and, as a soccer fan, informative as well as entertaining. The shots of soccer were done brilliantly as well, as were the interactions between the managers and players. As a whole, there is not a ton to say about this one, other than: you will enjoy this even if you are not soccer fan, but if you are a soccer fan, boy do I have the movie for you.
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This is a reasonably good film at depicting the passion people have for a local football team. Good performances from a good cast, particularly Michael Sheen and Timothy Spall. Its mainly about the level of influence that the manager has over the direction the football team take and how much attention others pay to him. I imagine football fans would enjoy this, so I'd recommend it, yes.
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Personnellement je ne suis pas un adepte de ce sport, ni d'aucun sport collectif à dire vrai, ni de sport tout court : on sait les magouilles et les scandales à la fois de l'organisation et des joueurs eux-mêmes, quelle que soit la discipline d'ailleurs : un panier de crabes corrompus, des camés, des dopés et des supporters crétins. L'opium du peuple abruti en somme.
Mais qu'à cela ne tienne, il s'agit surtout d'un film sur les entraîneurs, leur amitié et leurs rivalités et le début à ce qu'il semble (années 70) du sport "business" avant tout. Un peu long mais sans être trop rébarbatif, le Damned united réussit à tenir le spectateur jusqu'au générique, y compris le béotien comme moi qui n'en a rien à foot. C'est grâce à sa réalisation et à son scénario, tous deux bien construits et grâce à ses acteurs qu'il y parvient, Michael Sheen en tête. Et ma foi, c'est déjà pas mal !
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I watched and thoroughly enjoyed this film - some excellent performances, great sets and a fine script - but it left a sour taste in my mouth afterwards when I found out just how much of this had just been fabricated. I mean, I understand about artistic license and all that, but altering the actual football results just to tell a better story? That's madness! There are so many irrefutable factual inaccuracies here it beggars belief. Treat it as a work of fiction and it won't disappoint. Just don't expect to learn anything.
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Production Company
Columbia Pictures,
BBC Film,
Screen Yorkshire,
Left Bank Pictures,
Screen Yorkshire Fund
Release Date Oct 9, 2009
Duration 1 h 38 m
Rating R
Tagline "They love me for what I'm not... ...they hate me for what I am."
Website
http://www.thedamnedunited.fr/
Awards
Satellite Awards
• 2 Nominations
London Critics Circle Film Awards
• 1 Nomination
British Independent Film Awards
• 1 Nomination
