The United Way

Cowritten, co-produced and starring (and I do mean starring in very sense) Eric Cantona who is by all accounts (mostly his) the heart, soul and talent of Manchester United (he did write this, after all).

He performs (I mean speaks) in hyperbole, aphorisms, axioms and dictum and demands the camera loves him (he did produce this, after all).

And yet, and yet, as John Oliver would say this film is still very watchable for us of a certain age if you can set aside Monsieur Cantona's close-ups and puffery.

For the rest who can't remember, or aren't intertest in, all things Manchester United before 1991, including "Eric The Red" ... this film is probably not for you.

An interesting review of Man Utd from the Munich air disaster 1958 to 1999. A lot of material to cover here so the film skims the surface, focusing on the Busby era and part of the Ferguson era. There is no explanation or good reason why the film ends in 1999 rather than at the end of the Ferguson era - a little odd.

Without doubt these were two fascinating eras, for Busby in particular, rebuilding the team after Munich. Later of course Ferguson came to United and for the first time in 26 years they eventually won the Premiership (previously Division 1).

Overall it tries to cover too much ground so there are only glimpses of some of the the united greats like Bobby Charlton and George Best and there is no proper analysis of why United underperformed for so many years.

The truth of course is that there is not really a United Way - there was the Busby way and the Alex Ferguson way - under all other managers United have underperformed. Contrast this to Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. These teams do have a way which is not reliant on one great manager.

It is still a good watch for all the shortcomings.

Unfortunately Eric Cantona is the narrator and writer. He tries to create melodrama but the poor script and over acting grate on the nerves and are a distraction to the story.

Rubbish documentary not enough information and Eric cantona camera hogging and saying stupid quotes all way through.

Nothing you already don't know/haven't seen in other docs, but I really liked the way the doc was made.

While all football fans *could* watch this, it may not be for everyone.

But it's a MUST WATCH if you're a United fan. The perspective on the history in this doc is unlike the other docs. Great cinematography, great music too!

More about Cantona than the Club but still well done and very interesting,