David D’Annibale, Staff Writer |
The movie “Any Given Sunday” was one of the top sports films that I have seen. It features actors Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz playing the main roles in the movie.
The movie starts with head coach Tony D’Amato facing a tough challenge of replacing his starting quarterback, Cap Rooney, after a devastating hit knocks the professional football legend out of the game. Unluckily for him the second-string quarterback gets injured on the very next play . Then a young, unknown third stringer is called in to replace him . Having been stuck on the bench for years because of bad luck and insufficient character, Willie Beamen seizes what may be his last chance and lights up the field with a phenomenal performance to earn the attention of his team. His stunning performance over several games is so outstanding and fresh it seems to start a new era in the history of the Miami Sharks franchise, and forces D’Amato to reevaluate his time-tested values and strategies while facing with the truth that his time in the league may be over. Adding to the pressure on D’Amato to win at any cost is the aggressive young President/Co-owner of the team, Christina Pagniacci, now coming into her own after her father’s death. Pagniacci’s driving desire to prove herself in a male-dominated field is intensified by her focus on the marketing and business of football., Her mindset that displays all coaches and players as properties causes problems throughout the movie for the head coach.
The movie was very entertaining and had a surprisingly gripping story as once Beamen achieved the fame he has been longing for his entire career it changed the way he acts towards everyone, causing him to lose his girlfriend, the head coach and his entire team. Eventually, after facing the truth, Beamen is allowed to play again after Rooney’s injury causes D’Amato to start Beamen in the second half
Throughout the movie, D’Amato struggles to keep Pagniacci out of his team as he wants to have full control. He worked with her father for many years when the team won it all years ago and she is desperate to honor her father’s legacy.
The movie ended in jaw-dropping fashion. With the season concluding, D’Amato announces that after his loss to San Francisco, he is quitting his head coaching job with Miami and signing with the new expansion team in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he is given full management control of the team. Before he is finished with the press conference, he announces that his first move is signing Beamen to his team since his contract expires at the end of the season.
The movie had lots of great football scenes and had many dramatic conflicts which keeps you engrossed even outside of the football games. I highly recommend giving this movie a watch if you enjoy watching football or a great sports movie.
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