By Darlene
Donloe
Kevin Costner is
becoming quite proficient in sports related films, including his latest, Draft Day, set for a nationwide release
April 11.
The combination
of Costner and sports is a proven cinematic victory. Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Tin Cup and For Love of the Game confirm it.
Draft Day, a savvy film, continues his winning
streak.
On the day of
the NFL Draft, general manager Sonny Weaver (Costner) has the opportunity to
rebuild his team when he trades for the number one pick. He must quickly decide
what he's willing to sacrifice in pursuit of perfection as the lines between
his personal and professional life become blurred on a life-changing day for a
few hundred young men with dreams of playing in the NFL.
Weaver has a
hard decision to make. Does he go with the obvious pick or does he stand his
ground and pick who he really thinks will help him build his team and bring a
championship to the city of Cleveland?
On the personal
side he has a secret relationship with one of his executives, who has some
life-changing information that could throw him into a tailspin. Add to that he
has to live up to the reputation and legacy left by his father who was the
beloved former coach of the Cleveland Browns. Plus, he has to take the wrath of
a city who can’t forgive him for firing his own father.
Talk about
having a lot on his plate on Draft Day.
When the movie
opens, the No. 1 prospect is Bo Callahan (Josh Pence), a Heisman-winning
quarterback. If Weaver wants him, he’s going to have to perform a little razzle
dazzle. The Browns are slated to
pick seventh in the first round, so if they want Callahan, the Seattle
Seahawks, who have the No. 1 pick will let the Browns have it in exchange for
the Browns’ next three years’ worth of first-round picks.
While his head
says Callahan should be his first choice, in actuality, Weaver wants Vontae
Mack (Chadwick Boseman) and Ray Jennings (Arian Foster), whose father
(real-life NFL vet Terry Crews) was also a Brown back in the day.
What to do?!
What to do?!
What makes Draft Day an A+ movie is the
authenticity and intensity it brings. The audience gets to see the inner
workings of pro-football and the cutthroat negotiations that happen behind the
scenes in the strategy rooms. Part
of the realism and intensity comes from the countdown clock inserted at the
beginning of the film that shows it’s a mere 13 hours before the draft.
Costner delivers
a steady, capable and believable performance as an NFL executive. He is fantastic. His repartee with Denis
Leary, who plays the coach of the team rings authentic. Chadwick Boseman builds upon his
reputation as an acting contender – turning in a stirring performance. Jennifer
Garner, Frank Langella and Ellen Burstyn have impressive turns.
Draft Day opens April 11, the same weekend as Captain
America: The Winter Soldier and opposite the family film, Rio
2. It should still bring in
decent numbers.
Draft Day, directed by Ivan Reitman, stars Kevin
Costner, Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Frank Langella, Sam Elliott, Sean Combs,
Terry Crews, Ellen Burstyn, Chadwick Boseman, Rosanna Arquette, W. Earl Brown,
Kevin Dunn, Arian Foster, Brad William Henke, Chi McBride, Griffin Newman, Josh
Pence, David Ramsey, Patrick St. Esprit, Timothy Simmons, Tom Welling, Wade
Williams.
A Lionsgate
release of a Summit Entertainment presentation in association with OddLot
Entertainment of a Montecito Picture Co./OddLot Entertainment Production.
Produced by Ivan Reitman, Ali Bell, Joe Medjuck. Executive producers, Tom
Pollock, Michael Beugg, Gigi Pritzker, William Lischak, Michael Nathanson.
On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don't bother), O (Oh, no!), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (OK) and E (excellent), Draft Day gets an E (excellent).
On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don't bother), O (Oh, no!), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (OK) and E (excellent), Draft Day gets an E (excellent).
Running time:
109 minutes; Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and sexual references.
No comments:
Post a Comment