Imagine an in-depth movie about a sequin factory in China that assumes we are already familiar with all of the details of sequin making, and you have an idea what it's like to sit through The Damned United.
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10/23/09
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The Damned United (2009)
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Reviews Counted:106
Fresh:99
Rotten:7
Average Rating:7.4/10
Consensus: Better than your average football pic, Damned United is carried by another star turn from Michael Sheen as Brian Clough.
Rated: R [See Full Rating]
Genre: Comedies
Theatrical Release:Oct 9, 2009 Limited
Box Office: $315,306
Synopsis: After tackling Tony Blair and David Frost, actor Michael Sheen turns to another driven historical figure: football manager Brian Clough. Talented but abrasive, Clough alienates some of those around... [More]
Starring: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent
Director: Tom Hooper
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Reviews for The Damned United
Soccer aficionados and anyone interested in this period of English soccer will be drawn to this character-driven story about sporting ambition... Somehow the film never quite hits its target, despite the elements and the team that delivers them
10/02/09
People who haven’t read the book will see a charming account of a man who will forever be a football legend, because he was witty and smart in a world dominated by money-grabbing dullards.
03/27/09
Start cheering because The Damned United is the first great football movie and it's going to be bigger than Clough's head.
03/27/09
Chameleon Sheen gives another terrific performance in a compelling, funny drama you don’t have to like soccer to enjoy.
03/28/09
The rare sports movie that deals with humiliation and disappointment.
10/09/09
Top CriticThe Damned United is really a tale of male camaraderie, sporting rivalry and the flawed nature of a man who many consider the greatest manager that England never had.
03/28/09
Those who give it a whirl will discover a delightfully comic and sympathetic portrayal of British life in the hardscrabble, ciggies-and-lager '70s.
10/08/09
Top CriticThis is the Life of Brian, and nobody else's. As such, it's never dull, and in many little details it's a back-of-the-net pleasure.
03/27/09
Smarter than Escape To Victory, more fun than Bend It like Beckham, but not quite the title-winning charge we were hoping for. Might challenge for a Champions League spot though.
03/27/09
A compelling, sprightly and heartfelt drama. Michael Sheen deserves an Oscar.
10/12/09
Sheen gives a magnificent performance. His Clough is a character you can neither like nor admire. You watch this walking train wreck in amazement as he continually steps on his own feet with his overactive mouth.
12/01/09
Because United prefers human and industry conflict over playing field disputes, it makes the film an accessible and spellbinding showcase for tightly-suited antagonism and venomous verbal spray. This is a first-rate drama.
10/08/09
There's nothing innovative about The Damned United, but it does exactly what it sets out to do with a clear sense of character and purpose, helped immeasurably by Morgan's rich dialogue and crafty structure
10/08/09
In addition to the textured damp British landscapes, the film convinces on the strength of impassioned performances by Sheen and Timothy Spall as his assistant manager and muse, Peter Taylor.
10/14/09
Hooper’s film rattles along crisply, with the director mixing punchy tussles on and off the field.
03/27/09
An incredibly entertaining 95 minutes spent in the company of one of the game's most interesting characters, and a testament to the way in which friendship can save us in our darkest hour.
03/28/09
A finely constructed and fiercely entertaining soccer movie that deals more in pride and obsession than penalty kicks.
10/23/09
Top CriticOne of [its] primary pleasures...is that, in choosing a topic as narrow and parochial as the fate of an English soccer club, Morgan has relieved himself of any duty to persuade us that the events he describes are of world-historical import.
10/23/09
Top CriticThis is a unique film, the best yet about English football. I enjoyed every one of its 93 minutes. There aren't many movies I wish could have been longer. But, this is one of them.
03/27/09
Latest News for The Damned United
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August 11, 2009:
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March 27, 2009:
The Damned United - A Photo Primer
Today sees the release of The Damned United, which sees Michael Sheen play legendary football manager Brian Clough. Back in 1970s, before the Premiership, Sky TV and WAGS came... More...
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