There are shockingly few films made on football. But then football is not America’s (or Hollywood’s) favourite sport. We’ve put together a list of the best films on football. Grab a beer, rent out these DVDs and take a break from the World Cup — with more football!
The Damned United (2009)
Director: Tom Hooper; Cast: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall
‘Faction’ meets ‘bromance’. The Damned United tells the story of Brian Clough, the best manager the English national team never had. It is based on David Peace’s best-selling novel of the same name (2006). Clough’s widow has criticised this movie saying that many of the events in the movie never happened. She had the same opinion of the book as well. There are a few inaccuracies but nothing that can’t be called creative liberty.
The fight scenes are refreshing. In this age of computer-generated imagery and special effects, watching hand-to-hand, no-holds barred street fights awaken long buried animal instincts in you. In moments of rage, all of us have fantasised about lashing out at another human being, but have stopped short because we’ve evolved as sentient beings. The GSE have no such qualms.
(This story appears in the 16 July, 2010 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)