The Damned United2009
The Damned United (2009)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Better than your average football pic, Damned United is carried by another star turn from Michael Sheen as Brian Clough.
The Damned United Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Brian Clough
as Peter Taylor
as Don Revie
as Sam Longson
as Manny Cussins
as Jimmy Gordon
as Billy Bremner
as Dave Mackay
as Johnny Giles
as Colin Todd
as Austin Mitchell
as John O'Hare
as Duncan McKenzie
as Duncan McKenzie
as Sam Bolton
as Keith Archer
as Nigel Clough
as Simon Clough
as Norman Hunter
as Younger Nigel Clough
as Younger Simon Clough
as Younger Elizabeth Clough
as Barbara Clough
as Groundsman
as Les Cocker
as Syd Owen
as Himself
as Lillian Taylor
as John McGovern
as Archie Gemmell
as Terry Hennessey
as Himself
as Journalist
as Commentator (Wembley)
as FA Committee Chairman
as FA White-haired Elder
as Himself
as Elizabeth Clough
as Mike Bamber
as Floor Manager
News & Interviews for The Damned United
Critic Reviews for The Damned United
All Critics (139) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (128) | Rotten (11) | DVD (4)
Moves along crisply with, mercifully, very little on-pitch football and many beautifully crafted, touching moments.
The story should have added up to an interesting and exciting movie, but it didn't for me. It was not due to Sheen's acting, but rather to a boring and confusing script.
The Damned United eliminates the existential anguish and pain that propelled Peace's novel, and curtails its lowering style.
Offering just enough football to satisfy the fans in the stands, The Damned United is also a pleasingly high-quality British drama with some terrific performances.
Two things that the British know that most Americans don't: Michael Sheen is the best actor in the English-speaking world; and soccer is the only football that matters.
The Damned United is a most entertaining study in obsession wrapped in a traditional sports movie.
Audience Reviews for The Damned United
A very interesting story that, if we didn't know that it eventually works out for Clough (later in his career, managing Nottingham Forest), could be filed as a classical tragedy: the brash and egomaniacal protagonist gets so high on himself that he forgets how he got to his station and alienates his friends and colleagues until it ends his tenure at the top club in England (Leeds United, at the time) in a mere 44 days. The plot was indeed the best part, as the scenes often seemed overstretched and the emotions in them often hokey; and though the cast is a who's-who of second-fiddle Brits, there's not much for these talented actors to do. I thought too much of the story was spelled out in on-screen text, as well - there were definitely elements that were obvious from the scenes (shown) that didn't need to be noted (told). A mediocre film that unfortunately sucks a lot of the life out of its promising material.
Super Reviewer
Im not into football movies at all and i will avoid them as much as possible but it takes one football movie to star Michael Sheen to actually get me to watch this movie and much to my surprise i actually enjoyed this movie. Its entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable and is actually highyly amusing. Worth a watch and like me it may change your minds about movies focused on football!
Super Reviewer
An underrated british movie.Since it's about football its intresting and entertaining.Like other Peter Morgan's screenplays ,stoyline is short and simple and has mostly focused on details and is more concerned to be faithful to historic events
Super Reviewer
The Damned United Quotes
| Brian Clough: | I wouldn't say I'm the best manager in the world...but I'm in the top 1 |
| Brian Clough: | I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the country. But I'm in the top one. |
| Brian Clough: | We're from the north, Pete. What do we care about Brighton? Bloody southerners. Look where we are! We're almost in France! |
| Brian Clough: | Things are going to be a little different around here... without Don |