Any Given Sunday

Starring: Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, Matthew Modine, Charlton Heston, Ann-Margaret, Aaron Eckhart, John C. McGinley, Lawrence Taylor, Bill Bellamy, Elizabeth Berkley, Lauren Holly
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Rating: R
Genre: Sports, Drama
Box Office: $75,530,832
1999

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: The Miami Sharks are having a difficult football season. They have a has-been coach (Al Pacino), a greedy owner (Cameron Diaz), and injured football great (Dennis Quaid), an unethical team doctor (James Woods), an inexperienced and arrogant young quarterback (Jamie Foxx), a selfish and overpaid running back (LL Cool J), and on and on. This once-great team is falling apart. However, there are forces working inside the team that believe they can all still be winners.

Review:

Tim: This movie takes football and shows it in a light unlike you've ever seen before. Sure, all the teams are made up- but they might as well represent teams in the NFL. Sure, Oliver Stone's film makes football much more glamorous and over-the-top than it really is, but that's also the beauty behind the film. The game sequences are among the most eye-popping (pun intended- see end of the film) football scenes ever caught on film.

Perhaps even more amazing than the game sequences are the all-star cast Stone put together for this film. Al Pacino heads it up, playing the aging football coach brilliantly. He is believable, and draws you into the film. His presence holds the multiple storylines all together. He is given great support by Cameron Diaz, who is at her heartless, cold best. Jamie Foxx is surprisingly great as the young quarterback. Dennis Quaid gives a good performance, but his talent is sadly wasted, as he's not given nearly enough screen time as he deserves. I'm a big James Woods fan, and he's great as the team doctor- his scenes with younger doc Matthew Modine are excellent. LL Cool J plays the money and contract-obsessed RB very believably. The film also benefits from great cameos throughout the film.

Any Given Sunday takes professional football to the next level. Sure, the game sequences run like a highlight film, but that just makes the film all the more intense. If you're a football fan, you definitely need to see this film. Oliver Stone does a terrific job making you feel like you are right there in the middle of the game.

One last aspect of this film to mention is the "Inches" speech given by Al Pacino near the end of the film. It is one of the most accurate and motivating speeches I've ever heard. Ever Vince-Lombardi worthy, the speech makes me long to put on the helmet and pads once again. The speech really applies to life as well as football, which is fitting, because Stone tries very hard to show the connection between football and life. Definitely check this film out, it is pro-football on an epic scale (the film is nearly 3 hours long as well- Stone definitely takes his time is showing how brilliant he is).



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Replacements, Remember the Titans, Scent of a Woman, The Rookie, Friday Night Lights, Varsity Blues