A Great Football Movie

Rating: 9/10 (14 July 2000)

Not since North Dallas Forty has a film director tried to dissect America's second favourite and probably most risk-laden sport.
The action scenes are stunning - staged in a style which brings the rush far more than any NFL film.
While the story is potentially a bit of a cliche, Pacino turns in the normal convincing performance, but the real surprise of the film is Cameron Diaz as the daughter of the late owner, who definitely shows she's not just a pretty face. Jamie Foxx is excellent as the upstart young quarterback (and he sings well too!).
All in all, I feel lucky to have seen a film which wasn't shown much in Britain because of its subject and am impressed with Stone's treatment of a game which is fascinating and so ugly at the same time.