I’m not a big soccer fan, but I enjoyed this bio-pic about Brian Clough, one of England’s greatest soccer managers. If you’re interested in coaching styles, Clough’s is unique. Michael Sheen’s performance is astonishing! The screenplay was written by Peter Morgan (The Queen and Frost/Nixon). Director Tom Hooper captures the team dynamics and the essence of leadership. The cast is strong–Timothy Spall (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Colm Meaney (Law Abiding Citizen), and Jim Broadbent (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)–and there are plenty of dramatic scenes. Most sports movies are ho-hum. Not this one! GRADE: A
I didn’t know this one was out on Blu-ray – mind you, it’s infuriating because a lot of british stuff is only avaIlable in the US, which makes access expensive (we get very high customs charges on imports) and problematic (region coding) – the Joan Hickson Miss Marple series has been prepped for Blu by the BBC, but only for the US – isn’t that bizarre?
Sergio, nothing surprises me about Blu-ray availability any more. Some of the movies I want on Blu-ray are only available in Australia! Crazy!
I meant to see this one on DVD and forgot all about it. Thanks!
Patti, THE DAMNED UNITED was a surprise for me. I’m not a big fan of sports movies, but this was something very different…and very good!
A baseball movie I might watch, a football movie I might watch, even a basketball movie, but a soccer movie? No chance.
Rick, THE DAMNED UNITED isn’t so much about soccer, it’s about leadership and coaching. I learned a lot by watching this movie.
Never heard of it but you can’t go wrong with that cast. Will look for it.
We just got DVD’s of the first two seasons of a British crime show from a friend in England who recommended it highly: LINE OF DUTY (Lennie James was in the first series, Keeley Hawes in the second). Don’t think it has an American release yet.
Jeff, I’ve heard good things about LINE OF DUTY. Let me know what you think of it.
I’ve read the novel by David Peace on which the movie is based. Later I received the movie on DVD as a present from England. Now I’m wondering if I ever watched it. I have a DVD player that allows you to watch UK DVDs so the region isn’t an issue.
My library has THE DAMNED UNITED so I’m getting a copy from them.