Good Football Films
24th August 2009, Monday
Trying to save a quid or two for big plans starting in October, I burrowed within my nest, basically just watching movies or Japanese doramas waiting in stack.
Beside a couple of classic American college fraternity comedies like "Revenge of the Nerds" and "National Lampoon's Animal House" who made one wondered how so many generation survived hazing and the chaos of living in a frat house in North America.
I also caught "20th Century Boys Chapter 2 ~The Last Hope~" which effectively is a cure for insomnia as I wonder if it really meant to be a cult hit despite the high production value.
But I must say the pick among the lot has to be a British film, "The Damned United", which chronicled the wretched 44 days tenure of the late legendary football manager, Brian Clough at Leeds United.
The film directed by Peter Morgan based on the novel by the same name by David Pearce which drew much criticism from the Clough residence and other past persona who was involved in the story for the discrepancies from what actually happened in real life which painted a less than illustrious picture of Clough
However it was a real good biographic film, starring a brilliant Michael Sheen who took on the role of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in another of Morgan's film, "The Queen"
The story was told by juxtaposition the days Clough was signed to take over Don Revie, whose successful stint with the Yorkshire club came to an end when he was set to become the English manager with the time Clough and his right hand man Peter Taylor was resurrecting fortunes at Derby County.
The film really gave viewers a glimpse of the muddy and dilapidated state of football back in the late 1960s and the early 1970s , be it the footballing grounds and facilities or the organization which was world apart from the state of the art stadiums found in the Premier League these days.
There was very little football as compared to perhaps the "Goal!" series but the story was mainly down to Clough and Taylor s; struggle within Derby County board in the latter years after differences with club chairman Sam Longson.
Those footballing shots were from stock videos with a shirtless Kevin Keegan after being sent off for a tussle with Billy Bremner in the Charity Shield which was Clough's first game in charge being the most noteworthy.
The acting of the likes of Sheen, Timothy Spall (as Peter Taylor, last seen as the mousey Wormtail in Harry Potter), Colin Meaney (as Don Revie) and Jim Broadbent (as Sam Longson) are a joy to watch as there was strong accents to add realism but not too strong to deem uncomprehensible.
There had been several decent footballing films from the past but I would rate "The Damn United" as one of the better ones together with "Goal!" which are basically biographic films rather than the usual underdogs rising to the top feel-good type of films. Though "Bend Like Beckham" was more about racial tension in the UK.
Of course Asian representatives like "Shaolin Soccer" and Singapore's own "One Leg Kicking" and "Kallang Roar the movie" are merely for entertainment and did not leave much impression.
The nice touch they did with "The Damn United" made me yearning for the stories of some famous English footballing managers to be put on the big screen including:
Trying to save a quid or two for big plans starting in October, I burrowed within my nest, basically just watching movies or Japanese doramas waiting in stack.
Beside a couple of classic American college fraternity comedies like "Revenge of the Nerds" and "National Lampoon's Animal House" who made one wondered how so many generation survived hazing and the chaos of living in a frat house in North America.
I also caught "20th Century Boys Chapter 2 ~The Last Hope~" which effectively is a cure for insomnia as I wonder if it really meant to be a cult hit despite the high production value.
But I must say the pick among the lot has to be a British film, "The Damned United", which chronicled the wretched 44 days tenure of the late legendary football manager, Brian Clough at Leeds United.
The film directed by Peter Morgan based on the novel by the same name by David Pearce which drew much criticism from the Clough residence and other past persona who was involved in the story for the discrepancies from what actually happened in real life which painted a less than illustrious picture of Clough
However it was a real good biographic film, starring a brilliant Michael Sheen who took on the role of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in another of Morgan's film, "The Queen"
The story was told by juxtaposition the days Clough was signed to take over Don Revie, whose successful stint with the Yorkshire club came to an end when he was set to become the English manager with the time Clough and his right hand man Peter Taylor was resurrecting fortunes at Derby County.
The film really gave viewers a glimpse of the muddy and dilapidated state of football back in the late 1960s and the early 1970s , be it the footballing grounds and facilities or the organization which was world apart from the state of the art stadiums found in the Premier League these days.
There was very little football as compared to perhaps the "Goal!" series but the story was mainly down to Clough and Taylor s; struggle within Derby County board in the latter years after differences with club chairman Sam Longson.
Those footballing shots were from stock videos with a shirtless Kevin Keegan after being sent off for a tussle with Billy Bremner in the Charity Shield which was Clough's first game in charge being the most noteworthy.
The acting of the likes of Sheen, Timothy Spall (as Peter Taylor, last seen as the mousey Wormtail in Harry Potter), Colin Meaney (as Don Revie) and Jim Broadbent (as Sam Longson) are a joy to watch as there was strong accents to add realism but not too strong to deem uncomprehensible.
There had been several decent footballing films from the past but I would rate "The Damn United" as one of the better ones together with "Goal!" which are basically biographic films rather than the usual underdogs rising to the top feel-good type of films. Though "Bend Like Beckham" was more about racial tension in the UK.
Of course Asian representatives like "Shaolin Soccer" and Singapore's own "One Leg Kicking" and "Kallang Roar the movie" are merely for entertainment and did not leave much impression.
The nice touch they did with "The Damn United" made me yearning for the stories of some famous English footballing managers to be put on the big screen including:
- Sir Alex Ferguson - Perhaps talked about his early days in Aberdeen, then how he nearly was sacked in Manchester United before Mark Robin's goal in a FA Cup game against Nottingham Forest kick started his legacy at Old Trafford.
- Sir Bobby Robson - The late legendary manager had a hand in transforming Ipswich Town's fortunes and had success at PSV and Barcelona as well as a heartbreak in World Cup 1990 at Italy. Surely will be a well scripted chronicles.
- George Graham - The former Arsenal title winning coach was known more for his dubious transfer dealings and "bungs" which would make a shameful tale George would not like to see.
- Sven Goran Eriksson - The Swede that many in England detested during his time as the England coach looked to go wherever money calls. With his bank account bulging and always in the company of beautiful women, a story about "it" would be great.
Japanese word of the day: コーチ (Coach/Manager) Which football manager's story would you like to see made transitioned to the big screen?
posted by Kei at
1:38 PM
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