NFL Related Review: Any Given Sunday

Topic from the archive

I’ve not watched this film recently… but I will again soon. However this topic remains a firm favourite for our readers and brings many visitors with a variety of peculiar search terms. So it gets elevated for now.

Update, August 2010

Check out the Miami Sharks “official” homepage at miamisharks.info

Original article follows. Originally published August 28th 2009.
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It’s become part of my pre-season ritual that I watch this movie at least once. And so I did this week. Strictly speaking it’s not NFL related, as Oliver Stone couldn’t get licensing. So it’s the story of the fictional Miami Sharks playing in the AFFA in pursuit of The Pantheon Cup.

The cast is as impressive as any film out there, with Al Pacino playing… well, playing Al Pacino as usual; Cameron Diaz as the Sharks’ owner; Dennis Quaid as the ageing quarterback and Jamie Foxx as the 3rd string quarterback who gets his chance through injuries; LL Cool J as an unashamed mercenary running back; James Woods is delicious as the crooked team doctor; John C McGinley as a reporter; Aaron Eckhart as the young OC and more and more. It also features Laurence Taylor as a legendary linebacker who changed the game (imagine…) and Jim Brown as a hard-nosed defensive coach. It even features Terrell Owens making a couple of plays.

Coach D'Amato (Pacino) gives advice to 3rd string QB Willie Beamon (Foxx) whilst injured starter Rooney (Quaid) looks on

The plot is nothing that special, as you’d expect. A team with a lot of history is struggling into the post-season after a great start. We join them in the run-in and with the squad suffering with organisation, injuries and the overall pressure.

Whilst ostensibly a film about the team, with arcs covering some players and their individual struggles it breaks down to focus on the relationships of Coach Tony D’Amato: His relationship with his trusted but ageing QB, the new up-and-comer, the medical staff, the owner, his ex-wife, his regular hooker and with the press. As you’d expect given the talent credited, they do a great job conveying all the emotions and passion you imagine these type of people have in real life.

There are a couple of the cast that to me really stand out. Cameron Diaz has never been better than she is here and I love every scene she’s in. From her scheming and plotting, to her incredulous “A… beer?” to her amusing scenes in the locker room with a bunch of naked jocks.
Foxx also does a great job with the pretty short arc his character goes through. He’s believable as the incoming “new kid” and again as the brash young atheletic QB. Pacino is nearly always great: His “inches” talk is one of cinema’s great monologues and is pitch-perfect. His lunch meeting with Foxx is another great scene between them, and Foxx holds his own.

Team Owner Christina Pagniacci (Diaz) discusses injured players with Dr. Harvey Mandrake (Woods)

Quaid too, carries the weary star quarterback just wonderfully. He’s loves to play but pretty much knows he’s done – his body is shot, the young guys are coming up on him and he’s suffering an aching all the time. There are some missed notes, but overall it’s a great effort from everyone involved. I even enjoyed LL Cool J – his “I like getting paid.” was perfect.

One thing of particular note is the in-game camera-work, which is excellent. Stone overdoes it with the use of blurring and slow-motion sometimes, but you get a great feeling in the middle of the match. The exception is the “monsoon bowl” where you can’t see anything, but does still feature some great shots.

Yeah, it’s a bit cheesy in places. Everything comes together and everyone learns a valuable lesson a little bit too ‘Hollywood’. Some of the imagery is also a bit – alright, a lot – heavy handed, but it’s a great journey overall.

It’s an old film and available at a good price at amazon. I also found that it’s out on Blu-Ray now too.