An overblown, detrimental sports rivalry in “The Damned United” is revealed to be caused by two coaches who are petty and childish.
Do you, like me, secretly suspect that a lot of coaches are like that?
“The Damned United” tells of the rise and fall of English soccer manager Brian Clough, a man probably completely unknown to the vast majority of Americans. That the film is so enjoyable in this country, and enlightening, is a testament to its universal truths: Some talented people are jerks, and their personalities can get in the way of their successes.
A considerably fictionalized true story, the film bounces back and forth in time between 1974 and 1968, in that order. In 1974, the brash, young Clough replaces the greatly beloved Don Revie as manager of the fearsome Leeds United football team. In 1968, we witness a match between what was then Revie’s Leeds United team and the little heralded team headed by Clough. Leeds plays dirty and Revie snubs the previously adoring Clough, leading to the unhealthy, long-lasting rivalry.
“I’m just going to have to beat him, Pete,” Clough says. “Beat him if it’s the last thing I do.”
The Pete in that quote is Pete Taylor, Clough’s longtime assistant coach. He is an integral part of Clough’s success, but the film never makes clear what it is that he does, other than recommend that Clough hire expensive, but able, older former players.
If that is a flaw, the filmmakers get the rest of the film right, starting with the casting. The extraordinary Michael Sheen stars as Clough, and once again he disappears into his role, as he has done in “The Queen,” “Frost/Nixon” and a host of other films. His version of the coach is cocky and cheeky, too high strung and loose-lipped for his own good.
“I wouldn’t say I’m the best manager in England, but I’m in the top one,” he jokes.
Revie is played by Colm Meaney, whose personification of the part extends to an extraordinary resemblance to the real coach -- kudos to the first-rated makeup staff. Among the other familiar faces (hello, Jim Broadbent!) is Timothy Spall of “Enchanted,” the Harry Potter movies and many other pictures.
Peter Morgan is the writer, from David Peace’s popular (in England) novel. Morgan created complex characters, but well-defined and real. Not only do we believe what is on the surface of the characters, we buy what they hide, their motivations and secret desires.
Morgan and the actors are helped in their quest by director Tom Hooper, who spent considerable time in Virginia directing the “John Adams” mini-series. He makes the story accessible even to people who don’t much care about soccer by focusing on the personalities and their conflicts.
A few of his camera angles are a little strange. But otherwise, “The Damned United” is an admirable and often fascinating work.
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