Damned good - The Damned United!

Have you seen The Damned United? It's the film Tom Hooper directed before he scored with an Osacar for The King's Speech. Set in the early seventies, the film depicts the notorious rivalry between two of the UK's most legendary football coaches, Don Revie (Star Trek's Colm Meaney) of Leeds United, and envious, arrogant Brian Clough (Michael Sheen of Frost/Nixon) of Derby County.

This is a terrific movie, beautifully shot. From the first couple of scenes, you're struck by what an amazing job Hooper and his DP (Ben Smithard) do of composing every shot. The film revels in its seventies setting with some outrageous hair and wardrobe and a great soundtrack featuring Tom Jones, Deep Purple and Bowie.

Revie's success and fame at Leeds inspires envy in Clough, as well as titanic ego, to the point that Clough's ambition eventually drives a wedge between himself and his manager, Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall). Their friendship plays more like a love story and it's terrific. Neither man's really complete without the abilities of the other. Sheen and Spall are both just wonderful in their roles. Jim Broadbent rounds out a superb cast.

It's a tremendously enjoyable film about two sports legends most stateside folks have probably never heard of. Here in Portland where we're erupting in new found love for our Timbers, what better time to check out this excellent tale of just how crazy that love for the sport can drive someone.