DURING the week, when Mrs J is on a late shift, I often dig out a film which I'm not normally allowed to watch when she is at home.
No, it's not what you're thinking!
It's usually to do with sport, war or science fiction – topics that are not really covered by Mrs J's favourite film channel True Movies.
The DVD I gave an airing to the other night was one of my favourite football films of all time – The Damned United.
It seemed appropriate enough ahead of today's clash with Leeds United at Elland Road.
As Rams fans will know, the film, released in 2009, is about Brian Clough's ill-fated 44-day tenure at Leeds in 1974, interspersed with his triumphant days at Derby County.
It is based on David Peace's controversial best-selling novel of the same name – a book which Peace himself said was largely fictional and based on the author's "interpretation" of Clough's time a Leeds.
I've not read the book – and don't intend to. I love reading football books – but prefer them to be factual rather than fictional.
When the film came out at the cinema I wasn't all that fussed about seeing it.
I was uncomfortable with the fact that out of a long career, littered with silverware, the only movie out there about Brian's life focused on his lowest point.
I also didn't like the fact that the book had upset the Clough family so much.
But friends who had been to see it told me I should – if only for Michael Sheen's performance as Clough.
That's the single reason I like the film so much.
Forget the half-truths, the bent facts and the things that just simply didn't happen, taken solely as a piece of entertainment it is very good – and Sheen is brilliant as Clough.
And all in all, Derby County come out pretty well in the final edit.
I once suggested to one of my mates, wouldn't it be great if Michael Sheen reprised the role for a sequel in a film that was a bit more positive.
I'd spoken before I had thought things through, as my mate pointed out.
"Well, you know full well what happened after he left Leeds. What would the sequel be called? The Blessed F*rest?"
Ah. Good point well made. I don't think I could watch that, no matter how brilliant Sheen would be.
It then got me thinking about other football films that are out there. Invariably, they have all been pretty poor – well, at least the ones I've seen.
The only one that passes muster is Escape to Victory, if only for its rousing soundtrack which never fails to get me into a positive mood.
It's a bit of a silly film about a group of Allied POWs taking on a team of Nazis.
It features real life players like Pele and Bobby Moore. Less convincing is the sight of Sylvester Stallone as a goalkeeper and a portly Michael Caine at centre-half.
But taken on face value, it's entertaining Sunday afternoon movie fodder – and no doubt will be on again this Christmas.
I hear there are rumours about it being remade, with David Beckham touted as one of the POW team.
I'm not sure. I'm not a big fan of remakes. I remember watching the remake, or "reinterpretation" as directors put it, of Mean Machine.
American football was replaced by "soccer" in this British version, starring Vinnie Jones. I wasn't sold.
Then you've got When Saturday Comes – a bit of a vanity project for Sheffield United supporting actor Sean Bean. An absolutely fantastic piece of cinema – if you're a Blades fan.
Of course, you've got a whole host of football hooligan movies – The Football Factory, Green Street Hooligans, The Firm, ID, Rise of the Footsoldier etc.
And there are football films that don't take themselves seriously, such as Mike Bassett: England Manager.
But I can't think of a serious football film that I find completely satisfying. The Damned United is the one that comes the closest.
That and the one scene from Kes when the games teacher pretends he's playing for Manchester United.
Maybe there is a brilliant football film out there that I don't know about.
So, Rams fans, I'm open to suggestions. Is there a football movie out there that I should see?
And if you were to make a film about football, what would the subject matter be?
How about one about a working class goal-scoring machine born in 1874 who would become a star striker for England and during the First World War would end up in a German detention camp. Steve Bloomer: The Movie anyone?
