Any Given Sunday
Grade: B
Actors: Ann-Margret, Bill Bellamy, Elizabeth Berkley, Jim Brown, Andrew Brymiarsky, Cameron Diaz, Aaron Eckhart, Jamie Foxx, Charlton Heston, Lauren Holly, LL Cool J, John C. McGinley, Matthew Modine, Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Lawrence Taylor, James Woods
Director: Oliver Stone
Rated R for nudity, language, violence, and drug use

Of the Oliver Stone films I have seen, I have come to the conclusion that he is an on/off/on director. Now he releases "Any Given Sunday," his hard-hitting NFL expose/drama. It's fast, kinetic, powerful, and bone-crunching. It refuses to let audiences look away by employing special editing effects that make it look like the longest music video over made. That's okay, though. It's got an interesting plot and storylines and strong performances from the large ensemble cast.

The story revolves around the fictitious football team The Miami Sharks. Their head coach Tony D'Amato (Al Pacino) is getting old. So is his starting quarterback Cap (Dennis Quaid). Cap is injured in a game and the second string is injured also. So, their only choice is to bring out third string quarterback Willie Beamen (Jamie Foxx). He helps score two touchdowns and almost win the game. Team owner Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz) likes what she sees and wants Beaman to start more games. He has brought them out of a four game losing streak and put them on the road to victory and the playoffs. While he's winning games for the team, he's also trash-talking the defense (which includes LL Cool J, Bill Bellamy, and Lawrence Taylor). While all of this is going on, the young medical examiner (Matthew Modine) has found out that the head medical examiner (James Woods) is letting injured players play.

There are many storylines going on here, and some of them are really not needed, fore they do not really bring anything to the film. One of those, is a subplot where Tony is having a relationship with a hooker (Elizabeth Berkley, who is destined to be type-cast after starring in "Showgirls"). That's one of the movie's faults. There's too much going on. It's bloated. Too many cast members, too many unresolved subplots. Some of those subplots, however, are resolved. Like one including Jamie Foxx and his girlfriend (Lela Rochon). There are some that are just there to try and flesh the characters out. You do get the impression that Stone is trying too hard. Without all of this stuff going on, the running time (which is close to 2 hours and 50 minutes) could have easily been trimmed down.

The women in this film are either two-dimensional or money hungry bitches. Cameron Diaz and Lauren Holly both fall ino the latter category. Lauren Holly in particular. She provides one of the films most stunning moments. When her husband (Quaid) tells her that he's thinking of quitting, she smacks him across the face hard and says "I don't wanna hear this bullsh*t from you." Cameron Diaz plays a character who will do anything to get money (including trying to blackmail the Mayor of Miami). Women who fit into the two-dimensional category are Ann-Margaret, Lela Rochon, and Elizabeth Berkley. Don't blame them, blame the script. All of the women give good performances (even Miss Berkley).

All of the men in the film are also good. They fall into the same to categories the women did, but they also add one: cameos. The money-grubbers are LL Cool J and Jamie Foxx. The two-dimensional's include Bill Bellamy, Lawrence Taylor, and James Woods. The cameo's come coutesy of Matthew Modine and Charlton Heston. As always, Al Pacino is in a group all by himself. He pumps up the energy and the intensity and makes even the worst film bearable. His Tony D'Amato is powerful, loud, and smart.

Jamie Foxx provides fine dramatic support in a role that seemed to have been made for him. He makes Willie likeable and then turns around and makes him unbearable as he talks about how much better he is than everyone else. This is a big departure for him and he surprised me. Cameron Diaz is excellent. One of the best, hard-working, and versatile actresses in the industry, she nails it. It's a strong supporting performance for a girl whose breakthrough role was in the lackluster, special effects flick "The Mask". LL Cool J, Bill Bellamy, and Lawrence Taylor are scenery munchers and bring almost nothing to the film, save for a few confrontations with Willie. Ann-Margaret plays Cameron Diaz's boozing mother who has been in the business too long. Lauren Holly is fine in her role, as are James Woods, Matthew Modine, and especially Dennis Quaid.

Stone does well with most of the film, but makes one huge mistake. He makes the dramatics on the field underwhelming in order to make the editing and sound overwhelming. Some of it works, though. Like the silhouettes of the cheerleader's at one point. Also, I liked some of the split screen stuff. My favorite shot would have to be Willie walking through a party as small and numerous split screens appear and disappear with bits and pieces of an interview with a sports news anchor (John C. McGinley). It's masterfully done and effective. The action during the football scenes is also underplayed, due to a camera that didn't want to stay still. Music and sound in the film are amazing (the theater walls were shaking), but ultimately, too much.

It's pretty safe to say that this is as close as most people are going to get to being in the NFL.


-Brian Jones, 2000/2002