Before I review this film, I have to admit that I rented it out purely on the strength of the names on the box! I reasoned that any film featuring Al Pacino, James Woods, Charlton Heston, Dennis Quaid, Matthew Modine and the delights of Cameron Diaz had to be pretty good, even though American Football held no particular attraction for me – and I wasn’t disappointed!
The story centres on several figures, all of whom are involved with the Miami Sharks gridiron team: Pacino plays Tony D’Amato who has been head coach since time immemorial, and he is now locked in conflict with the new owner of the team’s franchise, played by Cameron Diaz. He had enjoyed a special relationship when her father was in charge of the club but she is not as willing to tolerate his foibles, or the losing streak the team is on as the film gets underway...
D’Amato pins his hopes squarely on the
shoulders of star quarterback ‘Cap’ Rooney (Dennis Quaid), but he suffers a severe back injury in a crucial game, swiftly followed by his back-up, leaving the coach with no choice but to call on rookie 3rd-string thrower Willie Beamen. Although the new kid does pull it together and make a couple of touchdown passes, the team falls apart at the last, undone by showboating by star player (and shameless mercenary) Washington, played with surprising conviction by LL Cool J.
The film focuses on several struggles: Rooney is desperate to return to full fitness and regain his place in time for the vital play-off games, Beamen is equally determined to make the most of his break and cement a place in the winning team, D’Amato needs the team to turn results around as his job and reputation are on the line, and the team’s owner is fighting against prejudice but determined to leave her unique mark on pro football and will not let reputations stand in the way of success.
Beamen pulls out some showstopping performances to take the team back into contention, but in so doing he ignores the coach’s playbook and breaks the rules – he introduces his own plays in the huddle, thus incurring D’Amato’s wrath and appearing arrogant in the eyes of his own, more experienced team-mates... he is introduced to the world of the pro ball player, a world seemingly dominated by money, drugs and girls, and comes perilously close to losing his focus and submerging himself in his own hype.
D’Amato meanwhile is intent on drumming the importance of playing as a team into the collective of selfish individuals in his locker room, thus giving Pacino the chance to pull out some stirring speeches at various points in the film while the players lurch from triumph to disaster. The importance of the results is secondary to him to the importance of ‘living and dying ... and winning and losing like a man’, something that some of the players don’t seem to grasp. Indeed, the excessive importance placed by those involved on winning (and the win bonuses) is shown by a flat refusal to look medical advice in the face, and by the doctoring of test results by the medical team (headed by the excellent James Woods) to prolong players’ careers, even if it is at the expense of their long-term health.
Even if you don’t like American Football, this is well worth watching – as is to be expected with an Oliver Stone film, the direction is superb and the cast pull together to deliver some sterling performances. The action sequences are very well done indeed (and although I don’t understand the intricacies of offensive and defensive plays, it soon becomes clear what a ‘Comanche’ must be from the context of the film), mixing TV camera views with player cams as the tackles come flying in, and eyeballs pop out!
What happens in the end? Do the Sharks pull together and make it all the way? Who does D’Amato pick for the vital game, fans’ hero Rooney or Steamin’ Beamen? Well, I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t seen this film, but suffice to say that Stone avoids the easy, sentimental ending and there is a nice twist, as D’Amato gets his own back on those who doubted him.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1998 - Drama - Director: Martin Brest - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Marcia Gay Harden, Jake Weber, Claire Forlani, Jeffrey Tambor
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
I only wis my op had been this comprehensive when I first submitted it - a great review of a movie I thoroughly enjoyed - Cheers,Bruce (bwsr2)
timmyotoole 07.07.2001 15:56
Can't say I've ever heard of it and despite the praise you give it your wonderfully informative op has convinced me that it is not my type of film. Cheers, Timmy.
Oliver Stone'sAny Given Sundayis a massive 150-minute American football drama which, for ... more
all its ferocity and cynicism, is as soft-centred and clichéd as anyRocky-style underdogs-make-good crowd-pleaser. The Miami Sharks have lost three games in a row ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Oliver Stone'sAny Given Sundayis a massive 150-minute American football drama which, for ... more
all its ferocity and cynicism, is as soft-centred and clichéd as anyRocky-style underdogs-make-good crowd-pleaser. The Miami Sharks have lost three games in a row ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Life is a contact sport and football is life when three-time Academy Award-winning ... more
filmmaker Oliver Stone and a dynamic acting ensemble explore the fortunes of the Miami Sharks in 'Any Given Sunday'. At the 50-yard line of this gridiron cosmos is Al P...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Director's Cut, containing previously unseen footage. Life is a contact sport and football ... more
is life when three-time Academy Award winning filmmaker Oliver Stone and a dynamic acting ensemble explore the fortunes of the Miami Sharks in 'Any Given Sunday'...
Advantages: Storming cinematography, strong pace, great acting Disadvantages: might not like it as its about American Football, script a littel lacking compared to the other parts of the film
Advantages: Storming cinematography, strong pace, great acting Disadvantages: might not like it as its about American Football, script a littel lacking compared to the other parts of the film
![Any Given Sunday [DVD] [2000]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78535561.jpg "Any Given Sunday [DVD] [2000]")
Jan 16th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
