Any Given Sunday (1999)

A behind-the-scenes look at the life-and-death struggles of modern-day gladiators and those who lead them.

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Daniel Pyne (screen story), John Logan (screen story)

Stars:

Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz

3 wins & 9 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

Storyline

When a devastating hit knocks a professional football legend and quarterback Cap Rooney out of the game, a young, unknown third-stringer is called in to replace him. Having ridden the bench for years because of a string of bad luck stories and perhaps insufficient character, Willie Beaman seizes what may be his last chance, and lights up the field with a raw display of athletic prowess. His stunning performance over several games is so outstanding and fresh it seems to augur a new era in the history of this Miami franchise, and forces aging coach Tony D'Amato to reevaluate his time-tested values and strategies and begin to confront the fact that the game, as well as post-modern life may be passing him by. 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. Christina's driving desire to prove herself in a male dominated world is intensified by her focus on the...

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Plot Keywords:

nudity | male objectification | male in underwear | man wrapped in a towel | wrapped in a towel | 

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Taglines:

Life is a contact sport.

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and some nudity/sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gridiron

Filming Locations:

Joe Robbie Stadium - 2269 NW 199th Street, Miami, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,584,625, 26 December 1999

Gross USA:

$75,530,832

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$100,230,832

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Ixtlan, Donners' Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

162 min 156 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Woods and LL Cool J have previously appeared together on The Hard Way (1991).

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Goofs

When Ben-Hur is seen on TV, scenes are shown in the wrong order.

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Quotes

Tony D'Amato: You're a goddamn quarterback! You know what that means? It's the top spot, kid. It's the guy who takes the fall. It's the guy everybody's looking at first - the leader of a team - who will support you when they understand you. Who will break their ribs and their noses and their necks for you, because they believe. 'Cause you make them believe. That's a quarterback.

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits, we see D'Amato accepting an award and telling of his future plans with the league.

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Alternate Versions

Although billed as the "Director's Cut" and boasting 6 minutes of added footage, the U.S. DVD version is actually shorter than the U.S. theatrical release, which ran 162 minutes. Even with the added footage, home video versions run a mere 157 minutes. Among scenes/shots cut from the DVD incarnation...

• Some locker room footage during halftime of the first game.
• A voiceover phone call between Cindy and Christina following the first game is re-cut.
• Tony's drunken barroom speech about giving everything for his players, prominently featured in the trailer, is entirely removed.
• The second game is re-cut.
• Game 3 begins with a Kid Rock song in the theatrical version. The DVD opens game 3 with a Black Sabbath song, and the game is heavily edited, with much of the football action rearranged or cut entirely.
• A beach football game between the players and bikini-clad beauties is trimmed.
• A brief bit in which Rooney antagonizes Willie during practice is cut.
• The final game is slightly re-edited, with a new scene of a player losing an eye added, as well as more footage of Caps's comeback montage, but other plays are cut in slightly different ways.

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Connections

References The Insider (1999)

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Soundtracks

Horny
Written by Mousse T. and Errol Rennolls (as Errol Rennalls)
Performed by Mousse T. vs. Hot 'n' Juicy
Courtesy of Peppermint Jam/American and Universal International Music B.V.
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing and Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

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.