DVD OF THE WEEK

THE DAMNED UNITED ****
Starring: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Brendon Gleeson Dir: Tom Hooper

Lovers of good English drama, look no further – here another of those classy films that proves that it's not the subject matter that is important but how you tell the story.
I say that because the story of The Damned United is probably going to put people off, people that is who aren't followers of football, or soccer as it is more commonly known here, the 'beautiful game”. Those who aren't will probably never have heard of Brian Clough, England's most visible and controversial football manager of the seventies. Having taken a no-hope team from the bottom of the second division to the top of the league he was then hired by Leeds United, at the time the most successful team in England. His tenure there lasted a disastrous 44 days. This is that story.
And, like I say, it doesn't really matter if you know nothing about football. This isn't a film about the game, it is a film about three competing characters: Clough, his assistant, and Don Revy, the recently departed Leeds manager. It is a story of jealousy, revenge, obsession and hubris and it really is fascinating.
The Damned United comes from the team involved with The Queen and Frost/Nixon. Peter Morgan wrote all three and his way with subtle character detail and involving story is unrivalled. And Michael Sheen – following his Tony Blair and David Frost – puts in another great detailed turn as the unconventional, mercurial Clough. I had rewatched Frost/Nixon only days before yet was immediately convinced by Sheen as this very different character – he really is an extraordinary actor.

Since his sojourn as artistic director of London's Old Vic Theatre Kevin Spacey has been a rare presence on cinema screen, mostly limited to small character parts. He's back with a meaty role in Shrink (***), playing the titular analyst, a Hollywood celebrity doctor with a best-seller on the charts, outwardly at the pinnacle of success but in reality drugged out and consumed with guilt over the suicide of his wife. There are definite echoes of American Beauty but Shrink is much straighter – a touching funny little character study, beautifully acted, with a warm streak of humanity.

Why do I keep watching these rotten rom-coms? Well, because I have to review them of course. Otherwise I wouldn't touch Couples Retreat (**) with a pole of the 10 foot barge variety. Actually that's not true. I'd have watched it because it contains Vince Vaughan, Jan Faverau and Jean Reno. The latter owns an island which is a couples retreat where the former two (plus spouses) arrive for holidays/therapy. This film could have been as funny as The Hangover. Certainly the premise is no less original. Unfortunately it misses out on an essential ingredient in such comedy – humour.