The Damned United Blu-ray Review

"The Damned United" makes its appearance on Blu-ray with a 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer that effectively captures the film's intentional visual tone. The transfer prominently features a bleak and overcast aesthetic, characterized by abundant grays and blues, which lends the film a slightly washed-out appearance. Detailing and depth are impressively maintained, with fine details like raindrops on Clough's car, the brick texture of the Leeds United stadium, and the textural elements of neckties and sports coats all sharply rendered. The transfer showcases a strong color palette in select scenes, specifically during a beachside sequence that is vibrantly bright and intricately detailed.

Despite its overall dull visual tone, the Blu-ray remains free of distracting artifacts or significant transfer issues. Notable technical aspects include fluctuating grain levels, which can be overpowering in some scenes yet barely noticeable in others. While flesh tones appear somewhat ghastly and blacks often take on a washed-out texture, the presentation maintains a solid delineation, ensuring shadows remain defined if not entirely clear. Primaries, particularly reds, are rendered accurately, enhancing the authenticity of the intended look. Overall, "The Damned United" delivers a clean and enjoyable visual presentation on Blu-ray with minor shortcomings that do not detract significantly from the experience.

"The Damned United" offers a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack that is both subdued and effective for its dramatic subject matter. The track's nuanced feel is well captured, with subtle atmospheric details such as buzzing lights and distant typing, primarily localized within the front channels. Rear-channel activity is minimal, contributing to an ambiance that supports the film’s tone without overwhelming the viewer. During soccer matches, however, the crowd noise and in-game effects feel somewhat distant, lacking a more immersive quality. The music throughout is notably rich, clear, and well-dispersed into the back channels, with occasional low-end support that enhances the period pop and rock tunes.

Dialogue clarity is generally strong but can occasionally become muffled or lost beneath musical cues and sound effects. Dynamic range, while present, isn't fully challenged; it does expand slightly during the soccer scenes but never to an intense degree. The low end remains consistent yet understated, in line with the overall subtlety of the film's audio design. Rear channels contribute minor atmospherics during sports events, but this does not significantly enhance immersion. Overall, while the Dolby TrueHD mix may not be extraordinary, it effectively supports character interactions and serves the film's narrative adequately without delivering a highly impactful or enveloping sonic experience.

The Blu-ray edition of "The Damned United" offers an exceptional range of extras, thoroughly exploring both the movie and the historical context behind it. The audio commentary by Director Tom Hooper, Actor Michael Sheen, and Producer Andy Harries stands out with its comprehensive insights into the film’s creation and Brian Clough’s legacy. Supplementary features delve deep into the adaptation of David Peace's book, portrayals of significant football figures, and the socio-cultural backdrop of 1970s English football. Michael Sheen’s methodical approach to embodying Clough provides an engaging perspective. Additionally, the documentary segments offer a vivid narration of the dramatic evolution in football from Clough’s era. Deleted scenes further enrich the narrative, and various trailers round out this robust compilation.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful track with Tom Hooper, Michael Sheen, and Andy Harries.
• Deleted Scenes: With optional director commentary.
• Cloughisms: Director-commented scenes featuring Sheen as Brian Clough.
• Perfect Pitch: The Making of 'The Damned United': Covers adaptation, performances, and thematic exploration.
• Creating Clough: Michael Sheen Takes on 'Old Big 'Ead': Sheen discusses his portrayal of Clough.
• Remembering Brian: Interviews and archival footage about Brian Clough.
• The Changing Game: Football in the Seventies: Examines tactical evolutions and stylistic contrasts.
• Trailers: Includes various previews for other notable films.

"The Damned United" is a meticulously crafted and engaging dramatization of Brian Clough's ill-fated 44-day tenure as manager of Leeds United. Directed by Tom Hooper and based on David Peace's novel, the film transcends the genre of sports cinema by focusing on Clough's personal vendetta against former Leeds manager Don Revie and his tumultuous relationship with the club. The narrative pivots around Clough's disdain for Leeds' "dirty" playing style and his hubristic attempts to reform the team, which ultimately leads to his professional downfall. Michael Sheen delivers a tour-de-force performance as Clough, capturing his arrogance, charisma, and deep-seated insecurities with remarkable nuance.

Structurally, the film employs extensive flashbacks to juxtapose Clough's previous successes and failures in English football with his chaotic time at Leeds. This non-linear storytelling, executed deftly by Hooper, adds depth and complexity to the character portrayal, ensuring that viewers are kept riveted. While football fans will appreciate the detailed depiction of the sport's passion and politics, the film's real strength lies in its dramatic elements, presenting a narrative rich in themes of pride, resentment, and the pitfalls of ego. Screenwriter Peter Morgan's script superbly interweaves past events with present ones, giving a coherent yet emotionally turbulent view of Clough's flawed genius.

Supporting performances from Colm Meaney as Revie and Timothy Spall as Clough’s loyal assistant Peter Taylor are equally compelling. Meaney’s portrayal of Revie as Clough’s calm yet formidable adversary and Spall’s quieter but heartfelt performance provide additional layers to the film's intricate drama. The result is a unique sports film that shuns conventional feel-good tropes for a more substantive exploration of personal and professional conflict, making "The Damned United" a standout piece of sports cinema and a must-watch for those interested in the darker, more convoluted aspects of ambition and leadership in professional sports.

The Damned United's Blu-ray release captures the brilliance of Tom Hooper’s directorial efforts in a package that shines with exceptional technical quality. Elevated by Michael Sheen’s captivating portrayal of the controversial football manager Brian Clough, the film delves deep into the personal and professional turbulence during Clough's brief tenure at Leeds United. Rather than a mere sports biopic, The Damned United is a complex drama about ambition, ego, and the fragility of personal vendettas.

Sony's Blu-ray presentation enhances this engaging drama with a high-quality 1080p transfer that offers impressive clarity and detail, ensuring the cinematic visuals are presented in their finest form. The audio, delivered through a robust lossless soundtrack, complements the visual experience exceptionally well, with dialogue and score balanced to perfection. Additionally, the Blu-ray is packed with a commendable assortment of special features that provide deeper insights into the film’s production and historical context.

The Damned United is an exceptional film that's centered on the world of sport but never really feels like a sports movie. This is instead drama of the highest order, the tale of a man and the perilousness of a long-standing grudge that throws a team, a sport, and a country into upheaval as, for whatever reason, Leeds United falls from grace during Brian Clough's stay, the manager unable to maintain a powerhouse franchise despite his ability both before and after his tenure with the team to take the helm of a wayward organization and steer it to the top of the standings. Nevertheless, the sports elements are but of tertiary importance to the human drama of The Damned United, and Director Tom Hooper milks the story for all it's worth while his exceptionally-talented cast all deliver engrossing performances that accentuate the story without overwhelming it. A superb film in every regard, The Damned United is a must-see picture, no matter the viewer's affiliation to the sport of English football or foreknowledge of the protagonist's endeavors in football history. Sony's Blu-ray release does the film justice, the disc delivering high quality 1080p transfer, a strong lossless soundtrack, and a nice assortment of extras. The Damned United scores big-time on Blu-ray, and it comes highly recommended.