United (I) (2011) User Reviews

Good, but not quite good enough.

[rebecca-claire-turner · 7/10 · 26 April 2011]

I know far too much about the Munich Air Disaster and the lives it claimed, both in death and in injury. I spent a large portion of my formative years studying it with the hope to write a book about the event from a young football fan (which is still in its infancy). As a result, when I found out that BBC were producing and broadcasting a drama about the Munich Air Disaster, my interested was piqued; not to be critical necessarily, but to just see how other people portrayed it.

The drama follows the reality of the Air Disaster, mainly from the eyes of Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Murphy which begins in 1956 with the former wondering when he will get his first team chance. Before I watched it, I figured it would be from his point of view - big name, known all over the world, Air Disaster survivor, etc. You get a (very) brief introduction to some of the players (Pegg, Colman, Jones, Edwards) and to Jimmy Murphy (played by David Tennant) and Matt Busby. It follows the problems Manchester United and Busby in particular getting the team into Europe, and a little bit about the players home lives (at home with the landladies, at a dance). This is all a build up to the crash itself, and the aftermath through Charlton's and Murphy's eyes - climaxing when Manchester United go to Wembley to face Bolton Wanderers after the air disaster.

The direction of the dramatization is very good - the scenes are filmed beautifully. David Tennant plays the pain of Jimmy Murphy very well, although Tennant is significantly younger than the age Murphy was at the time of the Munich Air Disaster. The way he grieves is very real and he really put a good performance on.

However, I have issues with the drama.

The role of Matt Busby (played by Scott) depicts a rather shady character; shown more during the conversation with the FA about United going to Europe. Whilst Busby was very forceful about his opinions, I think they hammed this characteristic up. A huge discrepancy I had with the film was the insinuation that Busby largely left all team talk up to Murphy - whilst this is partially true, Busby was a very active participator in team training and was one of the first "training" managers of that era, and of whom we see today. The portrayal that he simply walked into the changing room to bark orders and leave the tactics up to Murphy was quite inaccurate.

Onto the players; why were so many omitted? Roger Byrne, Liam Whelan, Geoff Bent, Albert Scanlon, Bill Foulkes especially? The latter was a lynch pin in helping survivors in the aftermath of the crash, along with Harry Gregg who was featured. I voiced this to a friend, who said maybe the families of those concerned wished not to be portrayed within the film, but I found it utterly baffling that someone like Roger Byrne, the captain of the team, would not even be mentioned (apart from when his death was being read out). I also had a problem with the journalists, trainers and other passengers who were not mentioned, especially those who died like Frank Swift.

I thought at the end there may be a small tribute to those who passed on, so was surprised when nothing came up.

In spite of this, I thought the actors were very good (in the way they were directed, even if it was painfully inaccurate). The cinematography was fantastic and a joy to watch in terms of scenery. I just wish it had been a bit more accurate, considering so much time has passed and with so much information readily available about the crash (and prior), I would have hoped for something a bit more true to life.

Brilliant British film

[scattiee-1 · 8/10 · 25 April 2011]

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.

It was a good film, but kinda lacking. It didn't reach its GOOOALLL!!!

[ironhorse_iv · 7/10 · 27 November 2014]

I know a lot of people is giving this movie praise, but this movie didn't score because how limiting the film production is. Don't get me wrong, I like the movie, but something about it, was missing. Directed by James Strong, and written by Chris Chilbail, the movie tries to tell the true story of Manchester United's "Busby Babes" football AKA soccer team before and the aftermath of the 1958 Munich air disaster. Sadly, the movie fails to do that, as the movie doesn't have the budget to pull it off. The movie rarely show any action. For a movie about soccer players, it doesn't show even one football match. It's just radio plays the highlights from the game. This was very disappointing in an entertaining value. While, the games were omitted from the film, I do believe, they did a good job on showcasing the airplane crash, without going all CGI and special effects on it. Having the black-out hazing factor, made the film more suspenseful. I love the dream-like quality of it. Even the opening to the film was very well-made for a low budget TV film. Still, the computer generated, they did use, were pretty bad. The famed home ground, Old Trafford doesn't look real to me. Another thing, I do find troublesome, is that the movie focus way too much time, on the rise of player, Bobby Charlton (Jack O'Connell) on the first act, and assistant team manager Jimmy Murphy (David Tennant) on the second act. Since the movie lacks action, the film is loaded with a melodrama. Most of the first act drama, focus on Bobby Charlton trying to get into the team. Pretty predictable outcome that wasn't needed. It felt like a rags to riches story that made Bobby Charlton look like a hero, than a well-rounded film about how good, the team was, as a whole. The same as the second part, the movie makes Jimmy Murphy look like a million bucks, but they rarely focus on the replacements boys that are trying to live up to the 'Busby Babes' name. Since the movie only focus on these two, this makes the film, kinda faulty, as the movie doesn't do any service in developing any of the other teammates that happen to die in the crash. The film running time is way too short to establish anybody else. I barely got to know, most of them. Even if, the movie did. The movie still kinda forgot a lot to the players. They omitted Roger Byrne, Liam Whelan, Geoff Bent, Albert Scanlon, and Bill Foulkes. I found it, weird that someone like Roger Byrne, the captain of the team, wasn't in the film! I also had a problem with the journalists, trainers and other passengers who were not mentioned, especially those who died like Frank Swift. The movie also lack the time, to explain what was happening during the season. Those who are not familiar with the English & Europe football league systems might find the film details a bit confusing, especially how the team went on to complete the season. Honestly, I didn't know what was happening. All I knew is that they played one game that we didn't see, and somehow, they end up like champions. The exposition should had been use better in those black & white vintage theater reels. Odd for the theater to had HD clear black and white film in those days. Anyways, it felt like those scenes could had done, more to establish who the Manchester United were. The movie acting is very good for the most part. Jack O'Connell was great as the confident boyish Charlton. Sam Clafin was alright as the charismatic Duncan Edwards. I love David Tennant as the gaunt gritty yet deep, Jimmy. His performance was probably the best in the film. One actor that kinda got mixed results from me, is Dougray Scott as the determined Matt Busby. Scott's speaking pace, accent, and intonation, combined with his facial expressions and walk were a bit outlandish. He look bitter and evil, for most of the film. The Scottish accent was so deep, it sound more like Russian than anything else. He look like he was going to rip somebody head off with his gangster like style. Some parts of his dialogue were so hard to understand which hindered the overall effect of the film. Still, I did love his scene with FA director of football, Alan Hardaker (Neil Dudgeon). Both played hard ball with each other. It was a very intense scene. I agree with Sandy Busby, the son of Matt Busby, when he state, he was "disgusted" with the portrayal of his father on this film. The score by Clint Mansell was well-done. The emotional uplifting music by Paul Weller was beautiful. I love the song, 'Devotion'. The TV movie was first broadcast on BBC Two and BBC HD, before being sold internationally as a theatrical picture by Content Media Corp. It's somewhat easy to find. Overall: It's did the best, it could with the money they had. I wish for more, but in the end, it's still a powerful, haunting and very emotional touching movie that any soccer fan or sport fan can't miss.

Old Trafford

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 17 May 2014]

United is a docu-drama about the infamous 1958 Munich air disaster which claimed the lives of many of the Busby Babes and how the Manchester United team marched on from that dark day and rebuilt.

The focus is less on Matt Busby played by Dougray Scott in a stoic manner because he is sidelined after the crash as Busby was seriously injured and hospitalised for some time.

The focus is on David Tennant as Jimmy Murphy who has to cope with the aftermath, get a side together some from the lower leagues and get them to play. There is also the issue of some of the survivors being emotionally damaged from the incident such as Bobby Charlton who feels unable to play. Then there are the injuries to Duncan Edwards widely regarded as one of the best young players of his generation who survived the crash but later died.

As someone who knew little but the basics of this disaster I found the film informative and emotional. I would acknowledge the film had to condense the story which means some of the characters are sidelined or ignored but it is an affirming story of overcoming the odds that should get even non soccer fans involved.

6th February 1958 shouldn't be forgotten

[paul_benton · 10/10 · 24 April 2011]

I've only just finished watching this film based on the Munich air disaster and how Manchester United cope's with the loss of their players and friends. Now I've never written one of these reviews before and with all honestly it'll probably be my last, but I thought the BBC did such a good job with the entirety of this film that it deserves someone whether they read it or not to give some feedback. I'm not a Manchester United fan but I do love football - not soccer - Football! And I am a fan of well written and directed films and this has an abundance of both. I'm not going to write of the details of the film basically because you should all know your history and I don't want to spoil a perfectly good film. All I can say is David Tennant once again like every performance he gives is outstanding, alongside with Dougray Scott and a young Jack O'Connell whom plays Sir Bobby Charlton (clearly before he receives his knighthood). You don't need to like Football to enjoy this film, you just need to enjoy good films...

Suitably respectful but curiously uninvolving look at a tragedy.

[ianlouisiana · 6/10 · 27 April 2011]

Beneath a Lowry-esque factory scape of evocatively smoking chimneys,the 1956 version of Manchester United train on a pitch of the type once described by Bill Shankly as one he wouldn't keep coos on. In ungainly shorts and tracksuits,boots like cardboard boxes and kicking balls that weighed a ton once waterlogged,these young men contrived to be not only one of Britain's finest ever football teams,but it's most ill - starred. Within two years,fate had robbed Manchester of a huge proportion of its football heritage and The England team of some of its most influential players. The Munich air disaster has been well - documented,debated,blame apportioned (for many years the pilot was quite wrongly held responsible and only cleared after a long campaign by BALPA)for a very long time. If the BBC were going to do a docu - drama about it one might have thought that the 50th anniversary might have been an appropriate time,but three years on it has arrived on our screens to a reasonably small chorus of hurrahs,and those mainly directed at the Corporation's current love - object Mr D.Tennant. "United" is respectful,slow - paced,and,I almost hesitate to say,rather boring. The programme - maker's obsession with all things Northern may not extend to its top executives who,strangely, seem not too keen to actually live up there, and it does tend to give its portrayal of people and places oop North a slight rose - coloured tinge,the rough good humour,the solidarity of the poor,the comic postcard coppers etc. In "United"it is given full rein,extended even further than Manchester to Tyne and Wear to give another of the Corporation's favourite sons Mr T. Healy a small but meaty part. A bit like "Titanic" where we all know the boat is going to sink,we all know the plane is going to crash so suspense and surprise are out of the question,it's mainly a matter of characterisation that will hold our attention,and,to be fair to him,Mr Tennant,not one of my favourite performers I have to say,is very good at times as Jimmy Murphy,United's charismatic trainer,but all too often resorts to his customary bug - eyed over - enthusiasm when required to express emotion. Mr D.Scott is disturbingly like Warren Oates as Matt Busby,emitting menace when his public persona was one of genial paternalism. About 20 minutes too long,"United" may,perversely,have benefited at least from an historical point of view,with a larger cast to encompass the scale of the disaster,as key players and other important figures have been omitted. As it is,it serves to present an almost prehistoric football era of polite,respectful and law - abiding players whose annual wages en masse wouldn't pay the champagne bill for a good night out for today's top teams.

Inspiring point of view

[scotteggenberger · 10/10 · 24 May 2012]

Being a United supporter for most of my attentive soccer existence, I've always known about Munich. Watching this portrayal however cast new light and depth into the club's history, characters, and world opinion. I was touched to learn about the other clubs that sent on players and staff to help rebuild the club, especially Liverpool! The casting was incredibly accurate, as were their respective performances: shy boyish Charlton, charismatic Edwards, gaunt gritty yet deep Jimmy, and stalwart Busby. Busby's speaking pace, accent, and intonation, combined with his facial expressions and walk were incredible.

This movie was inspirational, emotional, and surprising. It's well worth viewing. The film makes you want to scour the internet for more information on Munich and affirms Manchester United's validity as one of the top clubs of all time, especially in this age of rich owner club buyouts. Anyone can buy a team and trophies, but only the greatest teams will be respected for creating a legacy. This film highlights that turning point for Man United.

Thanks for this film.

Inspiring, hard to watch

[vchimpanzee · 18 July 2014]

Manchester United is such a great team even I have heard of it.

This is a good movie, even if you don't find soccer interesting. It is a movie about a different time, and that in itself means something. The team is like family to the woman who feeds them where they live. But then there is the inspiring story about Bobby trying to become a starting player and ending up as one of the team's best.

There are lots of good acting performances, and David Tennant is one of the best as Coach Murphy. Dougray Scott is very good too, but he seems more mean and tough than kind and caring.

Jack O'Connell impresses too as Bobby.

Right before the tragic event, the music is very ominous. Everything about these scenes about halfway through points to some terrible event we already know is going to happen.

And afterward, there as a different but even more inspiring story. It is hard to watch but worthwhile. The news anchor is not kind and comforting but he confronts us with the reality. Will this team make it? Well, I did say Manchester United was so great I had actually heard of it.

Yes, it's really a winner.

Very Well Done, Nostalgic

[raleighgranprix · 7/10 · 24 May 2012]

Simply put, I like this movie because it really, really does give one a feel for the 'old time' game... and in fact, showing actual games might have taken away from the story line. I know we get that in movies like Goal but in one of the best Soccer/Football movies ever, The Damned United, it is kept at a minimum. Besides that, a lot of people praise The Damned United but that movie in the end is based very loosely on the David Peace book, a work of fiction to begin with, the movie was a great improvement on the book.

Those who enjoy reading about soccer/football in the old days like the William Hill sports book of the year; "My father and other working class heroes" or books on Sirs Tom Finney or Stanley Matthews most likely will find this movie very entertaining. And I have to say, it is a quite moving and introspective motion picture as well, a bit more of a somber movie. Perhaps a parallel to an American sports movie might be to compare it to the great "Fear strikes out" where the sport itself is a bit secondary to the plot. I'm not a Manchester United fan at all, but with this movie, I could envision other soccer/football movies that might not always be following the "Team overcomes great odds and wins" i.e. "Rocky" formula.

Epic.

[Dipankar91 · 10/10 · 31 May 2011]

Just finished watching it. Let me admit, I'm a huge United fan. That might have biased my approach to this 90 minute gem, but nevertheless I'll try and keep it as neutral as I can possibly be. Its touching, and really well made. Even a non-United fan will second my opinion of this movie. Been a long time any movie could get me this emotional. The acting and the music to go with all the different stages of it, pure brilliance. Won't want to ruin a perfect 90 minutes for ya, so won't get into the details. To keep it simple, for a football fan, its a must watch, even if thats the last thing you ever do. For a United fan, this will be the first of the many times you're gonna watch it. Masterpiece.

good sports inspirational movie

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 18 August 2013]

United is based on the true story of Manchester United's legendary "Busby Babes", the youngest side ever to win the Football League and the 1958 Munich Air Crash that claimed eight of the their number. Jimmy Murphy (David Tennant) is the assistant manager and Bobby Charlton (Jack O'Connell) is one of their young players.

It's a good story and another inspirational sports story. It doesn't play as well in the US. Nobody cares about "FootttBall". But I'm sure it's incredibly powerful in UK. It's like a Hockey movie in Canada or a Baseball or Football movie in US. I don't see anything exceptional here. Just a well done inspirational movie. Certainly I don't know anybody portrayed in this. Afterwards, I don't necessarily care much more about what happened.

"All right lads, back on the plane"

[richardchatten · 8/10 · 25 November 2022]

A sombre drama unlikely to see service as an in-flight movie for any airline carrying fans to Quatar to see the current World Cup. Containing remarkably little footage of football itself, it instead concentrates on the office politics that culminated in Busby's Babes taking that ill-fated flight in 1958. As manager Jimmy Murphy David Tennant's eyes are ablaze with both the fire of fanatical passion for the game and wide with grief in the aftermath of the Munich air crash. An interesting use of colour is the use of the bright red of the Man United strip against the otherwise drab depiction of fifties Britain.

moving and well done

[mompaxton-481-121381 · 7/10 · 8 April 2016]

I have watched football (here we call it soccer) and know the passion other countries have for the sport. I know how people bond as well as become bitter enemies over teams. So this movie had to be made very carefully to show respect for a horrible tragedy that befell upon Manchester United that fateful night. I think, in my opinion, that it did just that. it was well made and well performed. Showing the proper emotion and heartbreak of the time. Not to mention the will and strong spirit of the fans, team and support staff. Unfortunately it takes a tragedy to bring people together it seems. This movie is right up there with the other sport greats for an inspirational, motivational, and uplifting movie. Very well done.

A worthy attempt but not a classic

[ogdendc · 5/10 · 6 November 2016]

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.

This is why I love British movies.

[batudingin · 25 April 2011]

Great movies does often set itself on great story. even then it might not do the movie justice. But this one do.

Motivational movie is something else. But at the end of the day it is a genre. I do hate people that categorizes things like art. But it does happens.

Justify the feeling. Being chosen for something. The thrill of something new. Tragedy of a situation that is uncontrollable. Human spirit is a presence that is most likely a compelling presence.

I love Man United. For obvious reasons. But this one opens my eyes on the history. Bobby is a legend. But Then, they were not as much known as today. The richest FC in the world for pete's sake..

I love the movie. The acting is Humanic. No overacting even in corny moments. I do hope more British movies follows suit and with more publicity.

An informative and artistically accomplished TV film about the Munich disaster

[fredrikgunerius · 7/10 · 16 August 2023]

Truthful and conscientious rendition of The Busby Babes' infamous Munich disaster, seen through the eyes of assistant manager Jimmy Murphy (wonderfully played by David Tennant). The film's great production values bring this TV movie on par with high-quality cinematic experiences; it is filmed with a wonderful set of lenses which capture the time in question in a wondrous, almost mythical way. Of the many possible character relations the focus is on a handful few (notably Murphy and Bobby Charlton), something which works quite well for this format. Covering more ground could have become messy and would arguably have required a different format. As it is now, however, United is an informative and artistically accomplished film, albeit with a few factual errors and shortcomings, but that seems almost inevitable when filming an incident as well-known, discussed and documented as this one.

A football movie has never been more emotional.

[raiyanaali · 8/10 · 9 November 2012]

I'm going to say it straight from the off; this movie will play your emotional heartstrings better than Jimi Hendrix on his best day. Right from the beginning you are introduced to a post-crash scene where a young Bobby Charlton (played by Jack O'Connell) sits, injured, next to a team mate in the exposed harshness of a German winter. Just so you know what's coming ahead.

The movie follows the happenings of the events leading up to and after the air crash mainly from the perspective of Bobby Charlton. It begins with training day for a promising Manchester United squad where, as usual, David Tennant dazzles in his role as Jimmy Murphy, the head coach for the team. His portrayal of Murphy gives us a realistic idea of footballing days 40-50 years ago when boots were plain and sturdy, the football was hard and reliable, and first team opportunities were hard to come by.

Of course, the main man behind the selection of a team is the manager, Matt Busby, played by Dougray Scott. His portrayal of Busby has its ups and downs. You clearly get the idea that he is a respected man, a disciplinarian but fair, and someone that everyone strives to impress. However, this reviewer has his reservations about a few things; namely the accent. Yes, Sir Matt Busby was Scottish but did the accent have to be so thick? Some parts of his dialogue was hard to understand which hindered the overall effect of the film. Despite that, the camera shots really did let the viewer experience an aura about the man, like you were in the presence of greatness even while watching from a television screen.

I mentioned earlier that there was an emotional aspect to this film. And there is. In buckets. Especially if you're a United fan. Charlton fights with his emotions about whether or not he wants to come back to play for the team, arguing that "it's not the team without them" when referring to the deaths of his team mates. And it's true, and the fact that I can say that speaks volumes about the acting making me feel like I experienced the deaths of my team mates.

Overall, this film has its ups and downs, and if you're looking for a "Goal!" kind of movie where a player leads a team to glory - look elsewhere. This is a team sport, and this movie reflects it better than a mirror. The bond between each other, the euphoria of being in the Manchester United dressing room, being surrounded by talented players destined for glory, the emotional roller-coaster of triumph and despair, and the eventual victory all make this film not just an excellent insight into what life was like in the 1950s, but also made the viewer feel like they were part of a team, like they lost their friends, like they were united.

Decent production.

[LW-08854 · 6/10 · 28 December 2023]

A fairly simple TV drama about the Munich air disaster of 1958. The story follows Bobby Charlton as a young footballer training with the Man U team and given a chance at playing for the first team. The series gets the point across in countless ways that this was a simpler time for football and for footballers, they were well known and liked but riches and glamour were a long way off still. One thing I noticed fairly early on was this is a bit of an ugly looking picture, the picture has an annoying habit of chopping the top of the heads off the actors, it also has this warm muddy brown and rather soft look to it, the 1950s though is quite well produced in the props, the furniture and wallpaper. The early bits is mostly training scenes which appears to have been filmed in a local park, this looks like it's got a really tiny budget, they really struggle to sell the idea they are really in Yugoslavia or Germany because it's all just indoor shots, the CGI plane is especially poor. The film also really missed an opportunity to introduce us properly to all of the players and their individual characteristics and traits. Equally after the disaster there's no real focus on how their wives and parents are affected by it, another really obvious missed opportunity to show real grief. We don't even see any football, not one match, again I think it probably goes back to the budget. Where the drama does work though is in the final 30 minutes and the effort to really rebuild the squad. David Tennant is really good in those scenes.

United damn good

[davesleepjones · 9/10 · 25 April 2011]

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.

Captures Manchester of that era perfectly.

[cathyannemoore-66196 · 10/10 · 7 May 2022]

First time I watched this I took it as little more than a made for TV movie. Second time a decade later I really appreciate the story it has to tell and how it captures the Manchester of my childhood. I'm not old enough to remember the Munich air disaster but United winning the European Cup is one of the first matches I remember. Thanks mostly to the outstanding performance of Georgie Best. Now I'm old enough to fully appreciate the impact the crash had on the Nation not just Manchester. The script is very powerful and enlightens us as to the contrast between the earnings of players of today and players of recent history. I think the casting was brilliant - Tennant especially gave a credible and 10/10 performance as Jimmy Murphy. I highly recommend this film. As a Mancunian I am very proud of how the club rose like a phoenix - but more so incredibly sad for the tragedy told so sensitively by this film.

a moving meditation on mortality

[myriamlenys · 9/10 · 8 February 2018]

An excellent movie : modest, intelligent, sensitive and restrained. The story is mainly (but not exclusively) told through the eyes of Bobby Charlton, a young footballer of genius, who survives the crash, and football trainer Jimmy Murphy, who is back in Great-Britain when the disaster happens but is confronted with the human fall-out and the near-lethal blow to the club. As a result the viewer gets a pretty complete image not only of the crash itself, but also of its build-up, ramifications and consequences.

The period detail is realistic and the emotions ring true, thanks to outstanding performances. (Mr. Tennant proves that he is much more than just his "Doctor Who" character). Mr. Mansell can be proud of an excellent musical score, which creates a mood of sadness and tragic inevitability without becoming intrusive or over-emphatic. The immediate aftermath of the plane crash is very well done : people who have lived through moments of great terror or shock will recognize that strange mixture of hyper-clarity and swimming, swirling impotence.

So this is a very fine movie. Only one thing struck me as a bit of a shortcoming and that was the exclusive focus on the Manchester United team. The premature death of so many young men, all of them superb sportsmen in their prime, was, and remains, a grievous sorrow, well worth of pity and remembrance. But it might have been nice to spare a few kind thoughts and words for the other victims of the crash, too. One can be sure that the other people who died in the crash had hoped to live a longer life ; one can also be sure that they, too, left spouses, relatives or friends who mourned their passing deeply.

could have been great, but ended up being dull

[grumpy-3 · 3/10 · 26 April 2011]

this is a typical bbc production, the story of what happened in munich 1958, is such an emotional and tragic one, but what the survivors did after that and the way they came back is beyond astounding. this is the story that should have been told the amazing triumph from devastating tragedy. but what we got was a film badly written and even worse direction, the camera lingering on nothing, slowly panning across empty space, the performers were all good but wasted, what should have been tear wrenching emotion was made flat. they did not tell the full story and also got quite a few very important bits wrong, busby was in a coma for a very long time, yet here we see him talking and listening to matches, this was just sloppy. a total wasted opportunity

a good watchable emotionally challenging drama

[robertsimmons-95246 · 10/10 · 17 July 2016]

Jimmy Murphy was one of my family and very supportive of myself after illness coming down to Wales to visit me during my teenage convalescence so I could relate to Tennants portrayal as favourable and as an actor he had certainly done his homework.The script and general production showed not only the tide of events surrounding the disaster but also embraced the relationship between Jimmy and Charlton.Setting aside the potential criticisms of how true to life other characters were portrayed it must be emphasised that the spirit of determination compassion and rebuilding was embellished in this relationship between the younger and older man and the effect that it had had on not only the team but the Nation.In other words the film went beyond football and this is possibly what the writing/production team had intended.A first rate unique film for a unique story which played objectively well.

Brilliant!

[massive-twat · 10/10 · 10 February 2014]

I'm a big Manchester United fan of 23 years old, and am from Manchester too. This may bias my opinion but I truly think this is a magnificent film! I really don't remember the last time I watched a movie as gripping and inspirational as this.

From the first minute to the last, I had goosebumps, found myself short of breath (not exaggerating), and I had tears coming to my eyes at many scenes.

I've watched the film quite a few times now, and I've never got bored of it. A pretty accurate portrayal of events (to my knowledge - I studied the air disaster while in secondary school), and I would recommend it to all who are looking for a good inspirational, well written/portrayed movie about the events included.

*A warning to any big United fan - it can get emotional!

A great football movie

[rangerdelraval · 8/10 · 13 April 2015]

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.