EdGrimshaw.com

What is it that contributes to a exceptional performance by character actor? How does an actor model a character with precision? Well Michael Sheen gives more than a few hints in his performance of Brian Clough in The Damned United probably the best football movie ever made. Realism,the  nostalgia of 70s football (not soccer), gritty determination, working class charisma, 4 dimensional acting all rolled into a single performance.

Its not easy finding an actor that had trials playing for Arsenal as a boy and someone who has a close resemblence to Clough. A footballing mindset in a complex character. A man with more sides than most!

Michael Sheen is exceptional when taking on characters, he does much more than mimicing or impersonating a character. He embodies that person, he takes on a new persona. He calculates on the basis of known information what may be the case. It could be said Sheen makes a better Clough than the man himself. Voice, mannerisms,stature and the character of a man with a mission - to beat Revie!!!

Before any filming Sheen reads and studies all available sources. Video, audio, text, anything that may provide further clues. Work begins months and months before filming. Sheen says "Let their uniqueness soak in"

One of the key aspects of modelling is not just modelling the central foreground traits of a character but also the background material but also the peripheral aspects. For instance why Clough would wear a green sweatshirt, the yellow shorts. What can be learned from the relationship with his children particularly Nigel. How did Clough build team spirit?

Brian Clough for instance wants to be the antithesis of Revie. Why does Clough take the Leeds Utd. job? To beat Revie. Clough demonstrates self destructive patterns, it manifests itself as alchoholism later in his career. His unresolved split with Peter Taylor. That's all part of the complexity of the character.

Clough lived behind a mask much of the time but sometimes let in drop. Clough worked like a cult leader, so Sheen studied cults and cult leaders. Clough broke players down then built them up, players and staff were devoted to him. Clough believed he had a psychic contact with his players. He could influence just with his eyes.

Clough could not use his familiar methods at Leeds. These in fact worked against him. The balancing personality of Peter Taylor was also missing so Brian went ahead and destroyed any chance of building a good working relationship with the players.

One of the factors that has not been analysed is the results that Taylor & Clough achieved together as compared to Clough on his own. Clough clearly failed at Leeds United and then did not get the results during the later days at Nottingham Forest.

A Great film to watch - The Damned United