Any Given Sunday (1999)
Any Given Sunday Review | Born to Watch Podcast
Our Any Given Sunday Review takes the Born to Watch boys back to 1999 for Oliver Stone's chaotic, testosterone-fuelled dive into the world of professional football. Featuring Al Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Dennis Quaid and peak Cameron Diaz, Any Given Sunday promised everything a sports movie fan could want. But does it still hold up, or is this one all style and no substance?
Whitey, Dan and special guest Will strap on the shoulder pads and revisit Oliver Stone's divisive NFL epic. What starts as a love letter to sports movies quickly turns into an examination of shaky cameras, over-the-top editing, giant egos and one of the most exhausting viewing experiences the boys have tackled in a while.
Al Pacino brings his trademark intensity as veteran coach Tony D'Amato, desperately trying to hold together the Miami Sharks while battling a ruthless owner, rebellious players and a rapidly changing game. Jamie Foxx bursts onto the scene as Willie Beamen, the backup quarterback who suddenly becomes a superstar, while Dennis Quaid delivers a solid performance as ageing veteran Cap Rooney.
Along the way, the boys discuss why Oliver Stone seems determined to assault your eyeballs with every editing trick imaginable. From subliminal gladiator imagery to frantic camera work and changing film stock, Whitey wonders whether the movie is trying too hard to be profound. Dan compares it to Natural Born Killers and argues that Stone's style overwhelms the actual story.
The conversation naturally branches out into memories of 1999, drunken phone calls, encounters with Elizabeth Berkley, backup quarterbacks becoming heroes, and whether there is a more pressure-filled position in sport than an NFL quarterback.
There's also plenty of appreciation for the stacked cast. James Woods shines as the dodgy doctor, LL Cool J delivers one of the biggest dickheads in sports movie history, and Lawrence Taylor proves real athletes can occasionally act. Meanwhile, Cameron Diaz splits the room, with Whitey refusing to give prime Diaz a quickfire vote despite the objections of everyone else.
As always, the boys go deep into the IMDb ratings, box office numbers and critical reviews before throwing around comparisons to Varsity Blues, Office Space, American Beauty and other classics from the legendary year of 1999.
But the biggest question remains. Is Any Given Sunday a genuine sports classic, or is it simply a two-and-a-half-hour migraine wrapped in slow motion and Kid Rock?
One thing is certain. Whether they're discussing football strategy, Oliver Stone's obsession with gladiators or the horrors of professional athlete fashion, Whitey, Dan and Will once again prove that no movie is safe when it lands on Born to Watch.
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