Fumble! ("Spoilers" included, if that's possible)

Rating: 5/10 (29 December 1999)

At first glance (the trailer), I drew a lot of similarities between this movie and The Program, with this appearing to be an upgrade: The Godfather replaces Sonny as the coach; the movie is longer, which must equal Oscar contender; and the hits are even bigger (and louder), enough to jar one from his or her seat.
After seeing the movie, I realized it was just a longer, louder, duller version of the aforementioned Program. Maybe we weren't supposed to believe this movie was more relevant than the Omar Epps/James Caan vehicle, but with Oliver Stone, were we supposed to expect something less profound?
I guess so.
Good things: Pacino and Foxx. Pacino was solid and Foxx had an engaging personality and swagger that worked as the young star. And L.T., I should say I actually enjoyed his work. I found his steam room speech to Foxx quite ironic.
Bad things: Cameron Diaz. It's not that I couldn't stand her character (that can be good) but I couldn't believe it.
The cliches. Does it ALWAYS rain when the team the movie focuses on loses/gets creamed/etc./etc.? And wouldn't it have been a lot better had L.T. not gotten hurt in the risky playoff game? It sure would've been a lot more original. And do teams always win on the last play? It doesn't add to the drama, not one bit, after every single movie that involves a sporting event ends that way. Find another way, coach.
The football logistics. A team that finishes the season 9-7 could've had home-field advantage if it had won its last game? 10-6 = home-field? A stretch ... And although this is a bit petty and licensing problems present themselves, I just can't get past the Miami Sharks, the Dallas Knights, et. al. And I also realize this wasn't the NFL ... it was the AFFL or whatever. So the new AFFL "star" has a No. 3 rap single? Arena League signal callers across the domed nation will be penning lyrics like madmen, if that's the case.
I could go on about time elements, the stereotypical alcoholism in the owners' boxes, Elizabeth Berkeley .... but I've probably went over the alloted number of words. I will close with this: If Stone wanted to catch the heart of football, he might have zoomed out and found a tripod to steady the damn camera. That would've moved the chains, at least (had to get one pun in).