Any given Sunday

Sun, Aug 24, 2008

So, to get ready for the upcoming 2008 NFL season, I reached into the vault and pulled out one of my favorites. Any Given Sunday was originally released December 22, 1999. It was directed by Oliver Stone and has a star studded cast with the likes of Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, LL Cool J, Charlton Heston, Bill Bellamy, and Jim Brown. It also has footage of actual football greats such as Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, Dick Butkus, and Terrell Owens. With a cast like this and footage as such, what football fan would not enjoy this.

This movie is about a fictitious team named the Miami Sharks. At one time, this team was the best. Now, it has been turned upside down and is in turmoil. The owner, Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz), and the head coach and General Manager, Tony D’Amato (Al Pacino). Christina inherited the team from her father when he passed away. Tony resents her because she has taken a more “hands on” approach than what he likes. For years he has been given the authority to run things as he has seen fit.

As of late, Tony has not been able to get his team into the playoffs like they use to. And to make matters worse, the star quarterback, Jack “Cap” Rooney ( Dennis Quaid), gets hit so hard that it knocks him out of the game. This is the chance that backup QB “Steamin” Willie Beamen (Jaime Foxx) never wanted. You can tell that the kid just wanted to sit on the bench and collect a paycheck. Once in for a few games he starts finding success. A play is called from the sidelines and Beamen decides to change the play himself. The team sees victory and Beamen becomes a hero as Tony loses control little by little.

As time goes on, Beamen’e head swells and he gets to big for his own good. It gets so bad the the linemen decide that he needs to be brought down a few pegs. Beamen ends up taking a beating on and off the field due to his actions.

And speaking of off field actions, Christina attempts to play hard ball with the Mayor of Miami. It backfires in her face as she soon has issues with the city of Miami and the AFFA Commissioner’s office. It gets so bad that there is an emergency meeting of the owners called by the Commissioner. It is a classic case of losing control protrayed by three characters; Beamen for his head swelling and thinking he is more than he is, Tony due to the fact that he has gotten old and keeps using plays that worked 15 years ago, and finally, Christina who thinks that she is more powerful as an owner than what she is.

All in all, a great movie to catch on Any Given Sunday. Click the picture to see Tony’s inspirational speech.