This review can also be found on Step2Inspire.
I’m not much of a football fan. In fact, whenever I do happen to watch it, I don’t see the ‘beautiful game’, I see 22 millionaires ruining a perfectly good lawn. However, I tuned into United last night because it promised to be brilliant (and I can never resist something that promises nothing but brilliance!). It certainly didn’t disappoint.
Based on the true story of Manchester United’s “Busby Babes” and the Munich air disaster of 1958, United stars David Tennant as coach Jimmy Murphy, Jack O’Connell as Bobby Charlton and Sam Claflin as star-player Duncan Edwards. The film is inspired by the interviews with the survivors of the Munich air disaster, which claimed 23 lives including 8 members of the team, and follows the team in an inspirational story overcoming this tragedy.
The film starts off by following a young Bobby Charlton in his efforts to join the team, neatly setting up a friendly atmosphere with the other players through pub banter and training sessions. However, this only sets you up for the devastation of the disaster that proceeded their success in Munich, because at the heart of this piece lies the tragedy that claimed so many lives, leaving only four members of the team able to play.
The scene of the crash was incredibly atmospherically done, with people silently making their way out from the wreckage, taking account of the disaster, to the eerie and melancholic soundtrack. The whole thing was made all the more emotive with the initial two failed take-offs, showing the passengers becoming increasingly concerned, and sufficiently putting me off boarding a plane for at least 4 months! It was both brilliant and hauntingly real.
Although each individual performance was incredibly strong, Tennant’s performance shone through the whole piece. I have always stated that David Tennant is a Herculean exemplar of emotional performance, and his delivery is so profound and genuine that it touches the viewer just as deeply. He has a remarkable way of remaining stoical whilst also managing to show a degree of the emotion within, and then being able to fall apart just as brilliantly. Whether he’s having a laugh with the lads down the pub, or falling to pieces at the foot of the hospital stairs, Tennant’s portrayal as Jimmy Murphy truly draws you into the piece and makes you feel the tragedy. Another spectacular performance from a spectacular actor!
United is one of many new dramas coming to the BBC, and 2011 marks the rebirth of TV dramas for the Beeb following a major investment in BBC drama. If we’re to see more poignant dramas like this in the coming months, it’s going to be a grand year!
If you missed United on Sunday night, it is available on iPlayer here.
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