THE DAMNED UNITED directed by Tom Hooper, screenplay by Peter Morgan based on the novel by David Peace, with Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent, Stephen Graham and Martin Compston. A Mongrel Media release. 97 minutes. Opens Friday (October 16). For venues, times and trailers, see Movies. Rating: NNNN
In 1974, Brian Clough was hired to manage the top-tier Leeds United football team. Forty-four days later he was dumped in disgrace after steering them to the bottom of the division.[rssbreak]
Clough’s tenure is the stuff of legend now, and this rousing drama – adapted by Peter Morgan from David Peace’s contentious novel – will only bolster his mythical standing.
Jumping back and forth in time between Clough’s run at Leeds and his previous gig turning the struggling Derby County club into a winning squad, the film upends the usual sports-movie formula, backgrounding the football action to focus on the motivations behind Clough’s choices.
Michael Sheen, who played Tony Blair and David Frost in the Morgan-scripted The Queen and Frost/Nixon, delivers a blistering performance as Clough, ably supported by Timothy Spall’s wide-open turn as Peter Taylor, the watchful yin to Clough’s raging yang.
