Any Given Sunday

This long look at the world of pro football makes it apparent that director Stone has spent little time around the sport. First off, his fictitious teams (L.A. Rhinos, Dallas Knights) are clad in some of the most bizarre uniforms ever seen. Likewise, his depiction of a quarterback rising to success in a two- to three-week period seems romantically flawed. But the biggest error Stone makes is to assume that the viewer should actually care for his characters. As Coach D'Amato, Pacino is the same haggard screamer that we've seen in much of his Nineties repertoire (Scent of a Woman, Heat). Foxx is predictable as Willie, the egocentric QB, and Diaz seems miscast as the tough heir to the Miami Sharks franchise. Only Quaid seems in place as the Cap (read: Dan Marino), the aging quarterback. Similarly, Lawrence Taylor is credible as the dumb lunkhead who risks paralysis for his multimillion-dollar bonus. Of course, we're supposed to believe that the love of the game is what motivates many of these characters. But such a notion gets buried beneath MTV camera angles, heavy metal music, and special effects designed to enhance the on-field intensity. Even worse are the frequent fade-ins of Vince Lombardi and other greats during speeches by Pacino's character. It's overdramatic to say the least, but worth a look if only for a few laughs. Look for cameos from the likes of Johnny Unitas, Barry Switzer, and Stone himself. But most of all, check out McGinley's parody of cheeseball sports analyst Jim Rome. It's the only aspect of the film that seems right on target.