Any Given Sunday (1999)

That was an excellent one.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

This could be one more well made motivational American football film, like Jerry Maguire, Remember the Titans, Rudy or Varsity Blues, but it is even more, as it also deals with many other important issues, such as: business over all, media effects, family relations, age conflicts, vanity, health problems. The minor drawbacks are the excess of unnecessary nude butts and some scatology, but, on the other hand, the film may also be praised for its edition innovations. Al Pacino is fantastic as the coach (as everybody may expect), but Jamie Foxx, Dennis Quaid and Camerin Diaz also do a great job. By the end, one more sample that this is not any given conventional American football movie.

Oliver Stone turns his attention to American Football with a long and frenetic film.The Miami Sharks are in turmoil and struggling to make the playoffs. Their veteran coach Tony D'Amato (Al Pacino), who has fallen out of favour with young owner Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz)and offensive coordinator Nick Crozier (Aaron Eckhart)is expected to succeed D'Amato as head coach. During the season the Sharks quarterback, Cap Rooney (Dennis Quaid) and his replacement are both injured. They have to call up the rookie quarterback Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx). Beamen is visibly nervous which includes throwing up during the game and makes a number of errors as he lacks knowledge regarding the team's play-book. Beamen however gains in confidence and quickly his star is in the ascendancy but the can the wily D'Amato turn the team around and outfox Pagniacci?Stone tells us the stories of people from different levels as they struggle to survive within in the world of professional sport. Cap is ageing and maybe past his best but his wife wants him to continue despite the pain of injuries to keep up with the lifestyle. Beamen on the hand is getting endorsements, money and women but loses his long time girlfriend along the way. Many of the others are willing to risk long term health as their ruthless medic (James Woods) is willing to give shots and misinterpret findings so the players keep on playing.Stone like D'Amato now a veteran filmmaker maybe past his prime when he made this film is typically audacious and frenetic. As always he keeps the camera moving, when one player gets tackled his eye pops out. He gets Pacino to let rip in several scenes but gets more nuances performances from Foxx and Quaid. A critical eye on NHL franchises, money and sport but this is a minor film in Stone's resume.

The first thing that strikes about Any Given Sunday, is its slowness: the lack of dynamism is so noticeable that is it very hard to finish the long 2h30.The second aspect that emerges is the global heaviness of the movie: whether it is the convenient, predictable and a bit cliché script, or the actors sometimes overacting, or the gaudy cinematography or the omnipresent soundtrack almost giving a powerful headache especially during the game scenes.Sure, there are a few positive points such as a few (rare) well written dialogues, or Al Pacino that, while not very subtle, is rather convincing, but it is not enough to make this movie really attractive and a classic of its kind.

Any Given Sunday delivers a raw, breath-taking, gritty side to the sport of football. Oliver stone scores a touchdown on his very unique vivid depiction of player/coach relations.The screenplay is strongly suited to the magical storytelling that Stone always creates in his films. The soundtrack fits perfectly throughout the film and the sound mixture from audiences to on-the-field dialogue.Speaking from a former football player from a high school level i can relate to the progression of righteous bonding that everyone develops.Oliver Stone including an all-star cast bring one of the most hard hitting, realistic football films to date. This movie brings the side of football that's concealed behind closed doors. Every moment drives you in complete awe. In sports films, nonetheless in films in general Any Given Sunday is as good as movies get.