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| Courtesy of Summit |
Saying
that Kevin Costner does his best work in sports movies has become cliché at
this point in his career. But if he wants to overcome that tired platitude,
then he needs to stop making such great sports movies. Draft Day is the most
entertaining flick either he or director Ivan Reitman has made in years.
Costner
plays Sonny Weaver Jr., general manager of the struggling Cleveland Browns. He’s
well aware that his job is on the line, which plays a big role in the deal he
makes with the Seattle Seahawks on the morning of the NFL draft. He trades for the
number one pick, but he gives up way too much to get it. He suddenly realizes
he may have made a bad situation even worse.
His
original plan was to acquire Vontae Mack (Chadwick Boseman) or football legacy
Ray Jennings (Arian Foster) in a later round, but now the pressure is on him to
pick golden boy quarterback Bo Callahan (Josh Pence). That would force the team
to trade its veteran quarterback (Tom Welling), a guy with unshakable loyalty and
skills that dramatically improved in the off-season. It seems like a problem
with no good answers, but Sonny has another idea or two.
Screenwriters
Scott Rothman and Rajiv Joseph have created a lead role that plays to all of
Costner’s strengths. He’s a commanding presence, but he also has a softer side
that he’s terrified to reveal in the hyper-masculine world of pro football.
He’s
gentle with his girlfriend (Jennifer Garner, going toe-to-toe with her
co-star), but not afraid to get in the face of his head coach (Denis Leary,
playing to his abrasive strengths, but often the film’s voice of reason). It’s
also fun to watch him come up with new schemes on the fly as his problem
continually shifts around him. Costner has played so many men like Sonny that
he could’ve sleepwalked through the role, but – to the actor’s credit – he
shows up in a big way. It’s a terrific performance strengthened by a stellar
ensemble cast.
In
addition to Garner, Leary and Boseman (who played Jackie Robinson in 42), there’s
strong work from Frank Langella, Ellen Burstyn, Chi McBride, W. Earl Brown,
Terry Crews and Sam Elliot. Heck, even P. Diddy shows up for a few minutes in a
deliciously smarmy role. They all deliver the sharp dialogue effortlessly.
Most
surprising to me is how suspenseful Draft Day is. Reitman cranks the tension
to almost unbearable levels for long stretches of time, which is crazy
considering the flick is nothing but people talking for two hours. When Reitman
finally turns the relief valve, the audience response was fantastic. It’s one
of the rare times I’ve applauded in a theater, something I usually find
annoying.
See
it on the big screen if you can, but don’t worry if you miss it. This movie’s
destined to be a cable television staple for years to come.
Draft Day is rated PG-13 for brief strong language and sexual references.
Grade:
B+
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