Draft Day is a sensational sports movie without the sports. It is an interesting concept that portrays the behind the scenes happenings of a NFL GM on the day of the draft.
It actually was panned by critics (what do they know), nor did it do that well at the box office (enough obviously).
In spite of what the results were, this is one of those films I watched on a number of occasions. It really entertained me with some good actors as well as a compelling story line.
The basic premise of the movie is Kevin Costner preparing for the NFL Draft. It goes through his day leading up to it and how he is torn. There are many factors weighing on his decisions including an owner who wants to make a "splash", a recovering quarterback who says he can do the job, and the allure of stepping out of his father's shadow.
Also starring in it is the former Mrs. Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner. She plays Costner's girlfriend as well as salary cap expect. Talk about taking your work home with you.
There is little football in this film and a lot of drama. Sonny (Costner's character) goes through a lot of searching, both internally and externally. He is torn what to do.
He has many options after trading for the #1 pick in the draft. With a talented, can't miss quarterback available, the answer seems obvious.
That is until Sonny goes against the consensus to become his "own man".
Of course, this is not the end of the movie. In fact, we are just getting started. Sonny still has a lot of magic to work, in spite of everyone being against his decision.
Denis Leary plays the part of Sonny's coach. His character is the typical jerk that Leary is so accustomed to playing. He pulls it off with perfection.
Personally, I think this movie tops both Bull Durham (which I enjoyed) and Field of Dreams (not a big fan). The fact that it is a sports movie yet omits the actually sports is very intriguing. I guess it is a film for all aspiring GMs.
I think this film is one of the best of the decade simply because it is so different. The unique storyline makes it very appealing and difficult to compare to other sports films.
This is aided by the fact that Costner is his usual self, an actor who's work I always enjoy. He doesn't always have the best selection in films in my opinion but whatever role he plays, he does it well.
If you have not seen this film, it is worth a watch. I can promise you, this is not your typical football movie. The plot takes it away from the field and into the front office. However, it is not drab since there are plenty of conflicts taking place.
Let me know your thoughts on this film if you had a chance to see it.