The Damned United (15)

Mar 25 2009 Pierce Hunt, Surrey Herald

THE Damned United, David Peace's bestselling novel about Brian Clough's disastrous 44-day reign at Leeds United, gets the big screen overhaul, with Michael Sheen (Brian Clough) playing yet another iconic Englishman.

Writer Peter Morgan (The Queen and Frost/Nixon) teams up with Sheen (who played Tony Blair in The Queen and David Frost in Frost/Nixon) once more to smash home an emphatic hat-trick of phenomenal productions.

But it's the impressive supporting role of Timothy Spall (Peter Taylor), as Clough's right-hand man, who steadies the ship when the going gets tough - on more than one occasion.

Made on a minimal budget, the BBC Films production captures the rugged, hard-nosed feel the game once had, back in the glory days of the 70s, when players had club loyalty, sensible salaries and would play a full 90 minutes with a fractured limb or bandaged head.

Brian Clough strived to be the best, and after he and Peter Taylor took Derby County from second division obscurity to first division champions (1971-72), he was lauded as the best young British manager around.

But with this new title, came new expectations. And when he took over at Leeds United, he found that stepping into someone else's shoes (Don Revie's - the former Leeds manager who left to become England manager) wasn't as straightforward as he'd anticipated.

The hostility shown on screen towards Clough is relentless, and his unique approach to the game fails to stir the Leeds side, while alienating a number of key players, including an outspoken Billy Bremner (Stephen Graham).

Without Peter Taylor by his side, Clough struggles in his new post, winning only one game in six, making him the club's least successful manager.

Many thought Clough taking on the job at Leeds was an odd decision. He had always been vocal about his disproval of Leeds' dirty tactics and less than flattering views held against Revie.

Watching the interview reenactment with Clough and Revie on ITV after Clough's dismissal really makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end, as it's a carbon copy of the original. Sheen shines with witty comebacks and his honest reflection on his failure.

Sheen's take on Clough's dry humour works in spectacular fashion throughout.

Peace's fictional book is a lot darker than the film portrays, but the approach of the film works brilliantly.

As the films ends, the screen is plastered with stills from Clough's unmatched achievements of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest.

Outspoken and controversial he may have been, but Brian Clough proved to be one of the most charismatic and successful managers ever to grace the game.

8/10