The Damned United Blu-ray

The Damned United

 (2009)

Drama | Sport



From the best-selling and critically acclaimed novel by David Peace, 'The Damned United' is directed by Tom Hooper and stars Michael Sheen as the legendary, opinionated football manager Brian Clough. Timothy Spall stars as his right hand man, only friend, and crutch Peter Taylor. Set in 1960's and 1970's England, 'The Damned United' tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough's doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football, Leeds United.

For more details about The Damned United on Blu-ray, see The Damned United Blu-ray Review

Starring: Michael Sheen

The Damned United Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


The Damned United kicks onto Blu-ray with a gorgeous 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. Though the film delivers plenty of bleak, overcast, dulled imagery with a slightly washed-out appearance and a proliferation of grays and blues into the frame, the transfer boasts strong detailing and depth, the image basking in its intended visual tone, an image that's also free of distracting and transfer-destroying phenomena. Fine details are sharp and nicely rendered throughout, whether raindrops amassed atop Clough's automobile, the brick texturing adorning the Leeds United stadium, the bits of grasses and clumpy mud on the field of play, or the handsomely-textured neckties and sports coats as seen throughout the film. Still, the washed out, dull appearance dominates the film, with the one major exception of a beachside sequence later in the picture where the image delivers a splendidly bright, intricately-rendered, deep, and altogether vibrant series of images that maintain the transfer's quality but showcase a whole different aspect of its technical prowess. The transfer also features a fluctuating grain field that's overpowering in some scenes but barely noticeable in others. Additionally, as a rule and with but a few exceptions, flesh tones can appear somewhat ghastly and blacks tend to take on a washed-out and excessively bright texture, but nevertheless, The Damned United looks marvelous on Blu-ray with its shortcomings minor and not particularly troublesome.

The Damned United Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


The Damned United serves up a healthy Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track is fairly subdued and lacking in prodigious sonic elements, but the more nuanced feel of the track is reproduced nicely for this Blu-ray release. The track features slight atmospherics throughout, from a buzzing overhead light to distant typing within the Leeds United offices, such elements playing primarily through the front with little rear-channel activity to help create a more engrossing ambience. Unfortunately, some of the soccer matches will leave listeners feeling detached from the action; raucous crowd noise and in-game sound effects play as a bit distant and lacking in a more realistic and engaging posture. On the flip side, music is rich, room-filling, and crystal-clear, with a spread into the back channels and a slight low end support structure in some of the more catchy pop and rock period tunes heard throughout. Unfortunately, dialogue occasionally comes across as slightly muffled and, more detrimental, a bit lost underneath various musical cues and sound effects. Nevertheless, this dialogue-heavy Drama delivers a fairly strong but not robust or particularly memorable soundtrack, the mix adequate in every regard but never stepping up and delivering a fuller and more satisfying listen.

The Damned United Blu-ray, News and Updates

• The Damned United Announced on Blu-ray - December 21, 2009

The Damned United Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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