The Four Year Plan

The Four Year Plan is a docudrama released in 2011 that chronicles the behind-the-scenes events of Queens Park Rangers football club during its tumultuous four-year journey to the Premier League under the ownership of Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone. The movie offers an unprecedented look into the high-stakes world of professional football, where money, business, and passion intersect in ways that are not always obvious to the fans on the stands.

The Four Year Plan is directed by British filmmaker Mat Hodgson and features a cast of real-life characters portraying themselves, including team manager Neil Warnock, chairman Amit Bhatia, CEO Philip Beard, and a host of QPR players and staff. The movie begins in 2007, when Briatore and Ecclestone acquire the struggling West London club and set out to transform it into a top-flight contender with the help of their personal fortune and their connections in the Formula One racing world.

The first half of the movie focuses on the chaotic and often comical efforts of Briatore and company to assemble a winning team and a winning culture. The team changes managers twice, and players come and go at a dizzying pace. There are conflicts between the British and Italian members of the ownership group, clashes between the old and new guard in the coaching staff, and tensions between the veteran players and the newcomers who are supposed to take the club to the next level.

One of the most compelling storylines in the movie is the relationship between Warnock, a grizzled veteran of the lower leagues who is tasked with turning around QPR's fortunes, and Briatore, a mercurial Italian businessman who is not used to taking advice from anyone. The two clash repeatedly, and the movie captures the tension between Warnock's desire to build a solid team from scratch and Briatore's ambition to buy his way to success with big-name signings and flashy tactics.

As the movie progresses, we see glimpses of the costly mistakes and missteps that plague the club along the way, including a player recruitment process that borders on the absurd, a stadium renovation plan that leaves fans feeling left out, and a financial model that relies heavily on the whims of the owners rather than sound business principles. Yet, amid the chaos, we also witness the emergence of some of QPR's most talented players, such as Adel Taarabt, Alejandro Faurlin, and Heidar Helguson, who play pivotal roles in the team's eventual promotion to the Premier League.

The second half of the movie is dominated by QPR's nail-biting 2010-2011 Championship campaign, which sees the team go from a mid-table side to a title contender in a matter of months. The movie captures the excitement and tension of the packed stadiums, the dramatic last-minute goals, and the hard-fought victories that propel QPR to the top of the league. It also highlights the crucial role played by Bhatia and his team in bringing stability, professionalism, and a long-term vision to the club, which had been sorely lacking under previous owners.

Throughout the movie, we are treated to candid interviews with the key players in QPR's transformation, who provide insights into their motivations, challenges, and triumphs. We see the human side of these footballers, who often live under intense pressure and scrutiny, and we learn about the sacrifices they make for their craft and their team. The movie also provides plenty of humour and warmth, as we witness the camaraderie and banter that exists within the team and the staff, despite the many setbacks and disagreements they face.

The Four Year Plan is a riveting and insightful movie that offers a unique perspective on the world of professional football. It shows us the highs and lows of running a football club in the modern era, from the boardroom to the training ground, and it gives us a sense of the passion, ambition, and hard work required to succeed at the highest level. Whether you are a hardcore football fan or a casual moviegoer, this movie is sure to entertain and enlighten you.