The Damned United
Rating: **** 1/2

You don’t have to be a soccer fan to groove on The Damned United.

Director Tom Hooper’s lively, somewhat fictionalized portrait of legendary manager Brian Clough’s 44-day mismanagement of Leeds United in 1974 is visually engaging, sharply written and occasionally downright hilarious.

Michael Sheen (Frost vs. Nixon) is brilliant as the cocky, rebellious Clough as is the great Timothy Spall as his right-hand man, Peter Taylor.

Forget I Love You, Man: outside of the intrigue and on field football action, The Damned United is ultimately the best “bromance” movie of the year.

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