David Love It is possible to make an entertaining and reasonably accurate football docu-drama. Take The Damned United as an example. It needs a lively script, good characterisation and some top actors.The problem with United is that the main characters themselves are not particularly memorable. Bobby Charlton, National Treasure though he is, is a bit boring,. Director James Strong has tried to liven up dour Scot Matt Busby by giving him an air of menace, when in real life he was a much gentler kinder man. Deputy Manager Jimmy Murphy is not so well known and so David Tennant is free to stamp his own character on him and in so doing does give the best performance of the film.The story itself is so well known, any attempt at suspense would fail. A group of players are emerging but cut down in their prime by an air crash. The surviving members must somehow rebuild from what remains.Overall although beautifully photographed, United is just too slow and drawn out to be a classic of its genre.

rangerdelraval Is not easy to find movies about the beautiful game, and definitely harder, to find good ones. "United" is one of the last. Just the realistic description of the professional football and the picture of the society of the 50's make the film worth to be watched. Divided in two parts, before and after the crash, I preferred the first one for the reasons just given above. The setting and costumes for the film are so well done and realistic, the locker room, the club offices, the pitch, the stands, the surroundings and the outside view of the recreated Old Tradford are superb, and really help to get you into the story.A must watch for any football fan, and very specially for any football movies fan.

davesleepjones I was once in a play about Hillsborough and that started my interest in foot ball a bit morbid i know but you have to start somewhere.I new nothing of the details about the 1958 air disaster in Munich and i feel after see this nostalgic drama i should. While watching United there was a wonderful reminiscence rather than a desperate pot boiler the plot and performances led you by the hand and cared for you throughout the hour and a half. The only thing i could relate this to would be Dead Poets Society or Remember The Titans. I did feel that David Tennant was far better than anything i have seen him in before and Dougary Scot should not only have played wolverine but is the only choice for a Sean Connery the life of film.

scattiee-1 I didn't know what to expect with this film as I'm not a football fan.I love British films so I thought I'd give it a watch, even though it's not the sort of film I would usually go for.I'm so glad I did now. It was moving and taught me lots about the Munich disaster (I wasn't even born when it happened).David Tennant is fantastic (obviously) and all the other actors were brilliant.My daughter has told me that there has been a lot of controversy about this film but I'm glad I haven't read any of it as it was just a really good film.Would defiantly recommend it.