Warren Gordon
Staff Writer
Draft day, the infamous day of picks, wins, and losses for all football aficionados, team managers, and players is noteworthy, and as is the film that shares the same name.
Director Ivan Reitman’s film “Draft Day” is an exceptional film that has an intensely engaging, dramatic storyline, a clever, humorous script, and a star-studded cast that gives a fresh perspective to the game both on and off of the field.
The film centers around the story of Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner), who is forced to fill his father’s enormous, grassy shoes as the new general manager of the Cleveland Browns. When he thought that life couldn’t get any more complicated and vindictive, he also faces – in the midst of his momentous career transition – enormous family obligations, like becoming a father, and the expectations of his hometown to transform its failing football team.
In his new managerial position, he faces even more difficulty than expected when his father passes away only two weeks away from the game-defining day. He simultaneously faces the roadblock of having lousy priority for picking his future team, and even more problems that pop out of the woodwork more often than solutions.
The layering conflicts that comprise the plot make the film incredibly gripping. Pressure seems to appear in every facet of Weaver Jr.’s life, from work troubles, to personal problems with his girlfriend Ali (Jennifer Garner), to mourning the death of his father. The multi-dimensional focus of the film’s storyline on the actual game of football and dually the complicated crossroads of an individual’s life, all the while leading up to the one decisive day for the infamous draft, keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and engaged on levels beyond feigned interest.
The cast also does a superb job of portraying the difficulties that both players and coaches face before the actual draft. The fact that the majority of players featured in the film are actual NFL players makes the film all the more realistic and entertaining, and unexpectedly makes for higher quality acting. Because the persons chosen to portray the players were themselves, who had already encountered a real draft day, the acting is genuinely spot-on.
Not only are the cast selection and consequential authentic portrayals notable elements of “Draft Day,” but the direction of the film is a standout aspect, too. Reitman’s vision and choice to both focus on an individual to fully convey the complexity of football and the fateful draft day is an excellent one.
It gives the viewer a chance to be immersed in more than just a personal tale of woe or the innerworkings of a fateful day in the year of the football-oriented person – as is expected from the commonplace sports-flick. Rather, Reitman’s direction leads to an intertwining of both that allows for complexity and entertainment.
Overall, “Draft Day” is a first-pick film of the sport-centric genre that truly captures the suspense of high expectations and the chaotic nature of life, through a delicately woven web of conflicts, an endlessly talented cast, and superb direction.
This film is currently playing nationwide and is rated PG-13.
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