Not all sports movies that are made in the future should be done like this.

Rating: 8/10 (15 February 2001)

Extremely sharp and intense film about the miniature and major dilemmas that a weary and devoted pro football coach Tony D'Amato (Al Pacino) has to deal with during the regular season. The team's new owner (Cameron Diaz) is unsure if Tony can lead the team to the playoffs. Part of that conflict includes the team's two quarterbacks: Jack Rooney (Dennis Quaid) is an old, but a reliable veteran QB. On the other hand, Willie Beamon (Jamie Foxx), is young and even though he becomes an overnight sensation. Beamon makes the dreadful mistake of not keeping his cool and gets himself into a bitter conflict with the team's merc like running back (L.L. Cool J). And just to make the film even interesting, the team's two doctors (James Woods as the unreliable one and Matthew Modine as the one who does it by the book) adds another piece of conflict. Outside the team, John C. McGingly is good as the sarcastic football analyst/nutcase Jack Rose who constantly rips on D'Amato.
"Any Given Sunday" doesn't seem to be predictable, but it's not although there's a wave of pressure in trying to be successful. The film has several current or former NFL players and coaches in key roles like Lawrence Taylor as a veteran linebacker and Jim Brown as the defensive cordinator and in brief ones like Barry Switzer, Y.A. Tittle, Dick Butkus, and so forth.
Director Oliver Stone is smart in making films with a lot of conflict and mistrust like this one and "Platoon" is another example, but a lot better. There's one thing that I should note: Not all sports movies that are made in the future should be done like this.