The Damned United

You don't need to know who Brian Clough was or follow professional soccer to realize what a rich and complex performance Michael Sheen (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) delivers in this film adapted from David Peace's 2006 fact-based novel about the abrasive, ambitious genius who inherits the Leeds United championship team in 1974, when long-time manager Don Revie (Colm Meaney) departs to lead England's national squad. Within 44 days, the self-destructive Clough abuses his power, alienating not only veteran players but also management and fans, winning only one game out of six before he's deservedly sacked. To put his egomaniacal behavior into context, flashbacks show Clough's earlier years, when he, along with his assistant, Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall), propel the low-ranked Derby County team into the First Division. During his Derby County tenure, however, Clough develops a pathological antipathy toward Revie and his overly aggressive troupe, based on real or imagined sportsmanship slights. While novelist Peace dwelled more on Clough's alcoholism, director Tom Hooper, working with Peter Morgan's screenplay, focuses on Clough's smug charm and innate desire for recognition, while faithfully chronicling his foul-mouthed, borderline-psychotic blunders and emphasizing his partnership with tactician Taylor. Ben Smithard's cinematography captures the dismal Midlands weather, and Eve Stewart's authentic production design matches historical newsreel footage. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary (by director Tom Hooper, star Michael Sheen, and producer Andy Harries), deleted scenes w/optional commentary (35 min.), “The Changing Game: Football in the Seventies” featurette (19 min.), a “Perfect Pitch” making-of featurette (17 min.), “Creating Clough: Michael Sheen Takes on ‘Old Big ‘Ead'” featurette (10 min.), a “Cloughisms” interview with Sheen (9 min.), “Remembering Brian” on late real-life manager Brian Clough (9 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a winning sports biopic.] (S. Granger)