VINCE'S MOVIE REVIEWS |
 Drama "On any given Sunday you're gonna win or you're gonna lose...the point is can you win or lose like a man." --Tony D'Amato |
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The acting and actual game sequences are second to none and have to be admired. Stone has done an excellent job here. To give us what looks like an on and off documentary feel he has the film edited with fast slash cuts. They jump and cut so fast any young child will be able to pay attention. Yes he uses the fast jump cuts during the games as well, and there I must admit they work. In other places, it just does not seem right and it distracts from what the actors are saying. I know many producers say it is important to do this, because the attention span of kids today is short but please don't go overboard. Many times in places where it doesn't seem to make sense we have scenes that are obviously supposed to be seen as if they are on a television screen. All this seems to make for a jumpy, quirky movie that tries to address the changing attitudes towards the game. No longer does it have anything to do with teamsports and love of the game. It has everything to do with the making of money and how viable are you to the advertising execs. I can understand this, since, you have to worry about your life after the game is over. Old age does tend to put a crimp in the football players potiental after all. Al Pacino (Tony D’Amato) is the coach who has to show a new young upstart quarterback, Willie Beamen played by Jamie Foxx and a young seemingly know it all female team manager and owner, Christina Pagniacci, Cameron Diaz what the game is all about. He does succeed by the end of the movie. A strong recommendation that when you see the credits start, do not get up because as long as they are talking on the screen surprises will be a coming. I have to give credit to Stone for the fine twist at the end that redeemed the movie for me. No, I'm not going to tell you. One interesting scene was a disussion between coach D'Amato and Willie Beeman on what the game is about while on the large tv screen we see Ben Hur chariot race sequences going on. Seeing Charlton Heston here and then seeing him as the football commissioner brought a smile to all our faces.   There is so much to like about this film and so very much to dislike. I found it difficult to sit and write this review because I did not want to say anthing bad about it but unfortunately I think the film needs re-editing and and re-thinking before it is released. An example of poor presentation is in a subplot that has Tony D'Amato, the coach push and swear at a popular sportscaster. Later he is told to apoligize but swears it will be a cold day in hell before he does that. Later he apoligizes and we are given no reason or set up as to why he apolgizes. The movie has many such scenes that detract from the plots flow. But...if you love football you would do well not to miss this film not only for the game sequences but also to see many past football greats playing interesting roles. Oliver Stone teaches the players in ANY GIVEN SUNDAY and the audience that no matter who you are or what you do for a living, there will always be somebaody who is younger than you, faster than you and stronger than you. Those people will always be behind you either pushing you to greater heights or ready to take your place when you fall. We all would do well to remember that winning or being the best is not neccesarily the only thing in life. Being happy and a good, honest person is the way to go. Right??? James Woods, who has made many movies with Stone says, "I think that football is not as big a part of it as you’d expect. I think it’s really more about honor and certain moral issues involving the right thing to do for people who have a strong capacity for life." See you at the movies. |
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Starring: Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Edward Burns, Ann-Margaret, Cameron Diaz, Jim Brown, Jamie Foxx, Charlton Heston, Lauren Holly, LL Cool J and Matthew Modine Directed by Oliver Stone Written by John Logan, Oliver Stone, Pat Toomay (novel) Produced by Dan Halsted, Lauren Shuler Donner, Oliver Stone Distributed by Warner Brothers Rating USA... Rating Canada... Read Another Review Of This Film Read Still Another Review Of This Film |
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vjm@metrocity.com
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