Talent will Out

The Damned United centers around Brian Clough (Martin Sheen), the irrepressible coach of Derby Country and fierce vocal critic of Leeds United and their playing tactics under Don Revie (Colin Meaney), and in a twist of fate, asked to take over Leeds as coach. Cut to the past and Derby United, where Brian, against all odds and far in excess of expectations, takes the club from the bottom of the third division to champions of the League Championship and the European Cup semi-finals. The same brings Brian the opportunity to run Leeds United – an effort that is a disaster from the word go – fierce loyalists of Don and brute football, the team never gets round to Brian’s philosophy, and after a series of disasters, Brian is sacked and takes over at relative newcomer Nottingham Forest, where he again metamorphoses a marginal team to a barely believable two European Club wins. The film is memorable for the roles of Brian and his assistant Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall), and their differences and eventual realization that they are indeed the perfect complememts for each other. An interesting movie, that showcases Martin Sheen well in a highly successful yet barely likeable character’s role, and a must-watch for football fans in particular

13/20