Why does a football manager’s 44-day failure feel more gripping than most sports triumphs? The Damned United (2009), directed by Tom Hooper, doesn’t just recount Brian Clough’s infamous stint at Leeds United it dissects ambition’s raw, jagged edges with a ferocity that hooks you from the first frame. This isn’t a dusty biopic; it’s a character study pulsing with relevance for today’s audiences, who crave stories of flawed, magnetic leaders navigating high-stakes chaos.

Michael Sheen’s portrayal of Clough is the film’s beating heart. He doesn’t just play the brash, charismatic manager he becomes him, blending razor-sharp wit with a vulnerability that makes every swaggering quip and quiet meltdown unforgettable. Sheen captures Clough’s paradox: a genius too bold for his own good, his ego both his rocket fuel and his ruin. Watch him spar with Timothy Spall’s loyal assistant Peter Taylor, and you’ll see a friendship frayed by ambition, rendered with such nuance it stings. Their chemistry grounds the film, making its emotional stakes feel as urgent as any Premier League final.

Hooper’s direction, paired with Peter Morgan’s taut script, keeps the pace relentless, weaving flashbacks with a precision that mirrors Clough’s tactical mind. The 1970s aesthetic grimy stadiums, smoky boardrooms feels lived-in, not nostalgic, thanks to Eve Stewart’s production design. Yet, the film stumbles slightly with its score. Stephen Warbeck’s music, while serviceable, lacks the distinctiveness to elevate key moments, occasionally fading into generic drama-cues that don’t match the film’s bold personality.

What makes The Damned United resonate in 2025? In an era of social media-fueled egos and cancel-culture reckonings, Clough’s story his unapologetic bravado clashing with institutional resistance feels like a mirror to our times. It’s not about football; it’s about the cost of genius in a world that demands conformity. The film’s refusal to lionize Clough, instead showing his flaws as vividly as his charisma, keeps it honest and human. For fans of character-driven dramas like Succession or The Crown, this is a must-watch that delivers the same addictive blend of power, betrayal, and wit.

Short of a bolder score, The Damned United is a near-perfect portrait of a man too big for his moment. It’s a film that doesn’t just entertain it challenges you to wrestle with ambition’s double-edged sword. Grab a pint, hit play, and let Clough’s fire light up your screen.