When the V.I.F team first heard that 'The Damned Utd' was to be made into a film the initial reaction was one of uneasiness, questioning and critical thought. The first thing anyone could do is reach for the book, flick through it once again and remind yourself of its initial impact.   The uneasiness bit comes through the tradition of successful books becoming not so clever and less successful films.    The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons being only two that spring to mind.  Also it was confusing in that the book was called The Damned Utd, but the film took the title The Damned United as in Manchester  United. 

Upon recognising that they were both the same, the film version of Peace's book would clearly be worth watching  and was based on the novel by Huddersfield Town fan David Peace, The Damned Utd.     Starring Michael Sheen as English football manager Brian Clough the film, like the book, cuts between Clough's disastrous 44-day stint as the manager of Leeds United; and the years leading up to it specifically his growing partnership with Peter Taylor at Derby County played in this film by Timothy Spall of Auf Weidersehn Pet fame.     At the centre of the film is also the examination of Clough's rivalry and obsession with former Leeds manager Don Revie.    A man who Clough initially idolises and respects and then comes to despise, most probably thorough petty reasons (as the film would suggest) involving a perceived hand shaking snub incident after an FA game which later grew into a true dislike for Revie's reputation for encouraging on-pitch hard tackles, player intimidation and alleged referee bribes.

As far as acting is concerned Sheen adds to his already impressive roster of real-life roles including those of Tony Blair, Kenneth Williams and more recently David Frost in Frost/Nixon. The Welsh actor and self confessed football fan Sheen is simply sensational as Brian Clough and no one could have played him better.   There's also strong support acting from  Spall and Jim Broadbent as the beleagured cigar smoking and criticised Derby club Chairman of the time Sam Longson.  The acting cast in top level and no expense seems to have been spared.  Unlike Goal! there are no unknowns; no failed soap stars and no cameo roles from former players.

At 98minutes minutes long the film script is one that bristles all though with real quotable football dialogue and cliché.   If you are a fan of Match of the Seventies or ITV4's The Big Match Revisited there is also a fair use of classical actual archived footage. The lumbering clips of the actors in football scenes can be forgotten such is the concentration on characterisation and rivalry.   The classical Leeds United tracksuits with the players names on the back are also uniforms that could be explored more in the current world of football bling and fashion tat.

Essentially The Damned United is about a complex yet thoroughly interesting man.   And forget all these reviewers who tell you that a prior knowledge of football is not required. The cliché and dialogue in the film is a football fans dream.    This is not Fever Pitch but neither is it Bend it Like Beckham its a football fans film and you can tell others that as well.     If you hate football do not go and watch it.  Role Models or Star Trek is much more your scene.

Brian Clough is widely considered to be one of the greatest managers of the English Game but more so he is known as the greatest manager England never had.   Despite the fact that he saw himself as being in the 'Top One' of managers he was never a favourite at Lancaster Gate and Ron Greenwood got the job when others felt Clough deserved it.     For one it may have been his views on football that meant he failed to get the job but his socialist and somewhat ideosyncratic anti-establishment rants may also have been a factor.   He regularly appeared at the Labour Party conference expousing emotive rants at 'power brokers' and those in charge.  They were his views from the heart but the FA would not have liked it.   

The exploration of Revie and Clough is though the key to the film rather than any failed attempt at the England job.     Clough hated Leeds United and all it stood for which makes the fact that he was successful in getting the Leeds managers job hard to understand.   Its was a little like  Neil Kinnock being offered the Conservative Party Chairman's role in 1984.    Storming right into a still Revie reeking culture at Leeds and trying to destroy any semblance of his memory is one of the most powerful themes of the work ‘Anyone who mentions his name is going to spend a week cleaning my boots' Clough tells dressing room leaders Bremner and Giles.

This is an intelligent transformation of a book that is terrifically involving all the way like a thriller is reaching a climax.     It takes human rivalry, personal dislike, football egos, cliche , football action and flushes them into a human drama rarely matched in other football films. There is no flimsy football hero made good ala Goal! and few fake football match scenes to dominate and spoil the human rivalry.  It is anti-hero all the way.

The Damned United uses fact fiction, rumour and speculation intertwined with documented historical football facts to produce one of the best football films of all time.    Sure it has its faults but as the aformentioned description would suggest fiction, complexity and myth is a big part of Brian Clough. For one, in the movie he is portrayed as being dignified in defeat after the failure of Derby County to overcome Juventus in the Semi final of the Champions League.    In fact it is said that after the game Clough called Juventus 'Cheating Bastards' and then in an embittered rant went onto question Italian courage during World War Two.   Now that may seem like an extreme statement but remember this was a man who also said he disliked Germans as they 'shot his dad'. On the down side whilst it is acknowdged that Clough was eager for a reunion with Peter Taylor after his failed stint at Leeds its very doubtful he got down on his hands and knees and begged for his assistance.   It was a powerful yet humerous ending although probably wholly inaccurate and we are sure Nigel Clough could put that right.

Brian Clough's life is one woven by success, chronic alcoholism, extreme outspoken views, self-destruction, quirky outbursts and psychotic male competitiveness played out through the game of football.     In short, his time in football is made for flashbacks and there are plenty of those in the film.   Ironically Jock Stein only lasted 44 days in the Leeds Utd job as well just like Clough and he, like Clough, made his name elsewhere.     However, there was only one Brian Clough and he was in the 'Top One'.    All of which means that The Damned United II is not in the offing.    Which is just as well as it truly was a unique story. 

The Damned United was released in the United Kingdom on 27th Match 2009.