Any Given Sunday (1999)

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers (WGA):

Daniel Pyne (screen story) and
John Logan (screen story) and
John Logan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 December 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Life is a contact sport.

Plot:

"Any Given Sunday" is a behind the scenes look at the life and death struggles of modern day gladiators and those who lead them.

Plot Keywords:

Coach | Ensemble Cast | Race Relations | Injury | Ignorance

Awards:

3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Al Pacino	...	Tony D'Amato
Cameron Diaz	...	Christina Pagniacci
Dennis Quaid	...	Jack 'Cap' Rooney
James Woods	...	Dr. Harvey Mandrake
Jamie Foxx	...	Willie Beamen
LL Cool J	...	Julian Washington
Matthew Modine	...	Dr. Ollie Powers
Jim Brown	...	Montezuma Monroe
Lawrence Taylor	...	Luther 'Shark' Lavay
Bill Bellamy	...	Jimmy Sanderson
Andrew Bryniarski	...	Patrick 'Madman' Kelly
Lela Rochon	...	Vanessa Struthers
Lauren Holly	...	Cindy Rooney
Ann-Margret	...	Margaret Pagniacci
Aaron Eckhart	...	Nick Crozier

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some nudity/sexuality.

Runtime:

150 min | USA:156 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Brazil:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #37161) | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:R(A) | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Cardozo Hotel - 1300 Ocean Drive, South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

A Warner Bros. favorite, Clint Eastwood was sought after for Al Pacino's role early on. However, he also wanted to direct the picture, but the studio declined.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Willie is talking to his mother on the phone after his first game and they show a reply of him throwing up on TV - it shows the score as 21-17 Miami. However, when Beamen enters the game, the opponent had already scored it's defensive touchdown to make it 24-21.

Quotes:

Willie 'Alien' Beamen:Maybe it's not racism. Maybe it's just placism. A brother needs to know his place.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Woodward and Bernstein: Lighting the Fire (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

JUMP

What professional football is really like...

Tony D'Amato(Al Pacino) is the head coach of the Miami Sharks who are owned by the Christina Pagniacci(Cameron Diaz) who is using the Miami Franchise only for profit. Trouble stirs up after long time star quarterback Cap Rooney(Dennis Quaid)is injured along with his back up bringing in third string quarterback Willie Beamen(Jamie Foxx) who becomes the face of the franchise after having great game after great game. The only problem is that he plays only with his head and not with his heart, with an aging team that needs an emotional leader to guide them to victory. Also Starring: James Woods, Matthew Modine, LL Cool J, Bill Bellemy, Lawrence Taylor, Charelton Heston, Aaron Eckhart, and John C. McGinley.

In a cinema that rarely produces pro football movies, this is the cream of the crop. It captures the reality along with the heroic story of a nobody rising to the top. The movie is humorous, dramatic, and a thriller for all sports fans.

This is not only one of Oliver Stone's best films but this is also the start of Jamie Foxx's "good" acting career. Forget what the critics said about Collateral or Ray being the beginning for Jamie Foxx. It was Any Given Sunday. Willie Beaman is a complex character and Foxx nailed the part. He was magnificent. He played the part to perfection and out shined the great Al Pacino. The supporting cast was also incredible with great performances from Cameron Diaz, LL Cool J, James Woods, and surprisingly John C. McGinley. It is very rare to find a great dramatic football movie but this is definitely one those small few.

Overall, this is one of the greatest sports movies of all time and it is highly enjoyable for adult audiences.

I highly recommend this movie.