United

It was great to see David Tennant in a good film. As much as I love him as The Doctor it's been harder following his film work but United was worth watching. It made me cry which is always the sign of a good film in my book to elicit an emotional response like that. United follows the before and after events of the 1958 crash in Munich which killed eight Manchester United players. The story, based on true events, was done beautifully although I know the film has been criticized for its accuracy by surviving family members. It was a bit slow in the beginning, a common occurrence of British film, but had some beautiful shots and when the news came down that the crash had happened it allows the actors to act rather then relying on special effects or fancy editing. What happens instead is that the actor is framed on one side of the frame with just empty space filling most of the frame. It sets a tone.

The shot of David Tennant, playing team manager Jimmy Murphy, crying in the stairwell packs a punch. The camera view from the back shows the crumpled form of Tennant and tells you all you need to know. The plane crash is done in a tasteful way but makes the audience wonder why they ever got back on the plane. The anxiety of the players is potent as they get on the plane for the last time. Laughter is replaced with grim expressions and players move to the back of the plane in fear. The film stops short of showing the actual crash and skips to the aftermath. This left me a little confused as to how the plane actually crashed and left so many people dead after failing to take off. The film opens with the aftermath panning along the snow covered ground littered with debris, stopping at the sight of Jack O'Connell, playing new footballer Bobby Charlton, strapped into his detached chair. It works to prepare you for when the scene eventually comes.The room full of coffins is another scene that grabs you.

I found I had a hard time remembering each of the players so when Charlton was grieving over Duncan I didn't know who Duncan was besides a ManU player. I wasn't able to connect with him before the crash so I lost some of the emotional payoff, however, O'Connell did an excellent job and a long way from Skins. Thomas Howes, who played Mark Strong another fallen player was memorable for his pipe smoking but also because I found it a bit ironic that the actor gets roles where he dies tragically (He played William in Downton Abbey). Dougray Scott did what I thought was a good job as Matt Busby, his surviving family members would think otherwise, but you kinda found yourself loving to hate him. Why did he push the team so far? I suppose the worse punishment is surviving and the film made the argument that he was responsible. In the film the character even wants to claim responsibility by Murphy won't let him. It's an odd moment because Busby was portrayed in the beginning of the film as a hard gangster type who's going to do what he likes and not worry about what the football league says. Pushing his agenda means his players die and as an audience member you want to blame him but he then becomes so remorseful that you can't. David Tennant was the joy to see for me with his Welsh accent. He was the center of the film and he set the pace beautifully. His emotional scenes were played well. Dean Andrews also needs a mention here. It was nice to see him in something else, besides Life on Mars/Ashes to Ashes.

Overall it was a great film that made me cry and want to root for Manchester United.