One of the most entertaining of the genre

Rating: 8/10 (13 September 2006)

The one thing I like about Oliver Stone is that he can put together one of the best ensemble casts for films today. (Robert Altman and Paul Thomas Anderson are also good at it, Altman being the best) This is one of those films that has football and story that is very interesting and this film has something for everyone.
I've gotta say that every time I look at this film, I do snicker a bit for I moved out to Los Angeles, California around the time they lost their two football teams. One of the characters here played well by Cameron Diaz, I am sure is loosely based on the LA Rams owner of that time. (I say loosely because Cameron's character's claim to ownership fame was via her father passing the team onto her and her degrees. For the Rams, well, let's say, Joe Esterhaus should have based his movie "Showgirls" on her.)
I guess there are a lot of "little insider things" like that that Oliver Stone threw in this film. But the bottom line is, I am not an avid football watcher, or an avid film goer for sports films...but I like watching this film!! You get interested, keeps you interested.
I like Al Pacino as the dry, dusty coach who should have been named the head of the team. I like the showing of the marketing dogs behind the new team star, played by Jamie Foxx and I liked the on screen rivalry between Foxx and LL Cool J. I like the story with Dennis Quaid as the vet who get's injured and his wife played by Lauren Holly who just can't let go of all the glitz that came with him once being the top, I like the showing of the women with their claws in these foot ballers, I like Cameron Diaz who is in over her head and thinks a college education as an administrator in this game is everything and her quest for dollars, I like Charleton Heston's cameo role, I like Ann-Margaret as the "I don't care what ya do" mom to Cameron Diaz, I like Clifton Davis as the Mayor, I liked watching J.T. and Jim Brown and all the other American Football players on the field (T.O...can you believe it???), I like the party girls and the high class hookers (Elizabeth Berkley), I like James Woods as the team doctor getting his 'due' as part of the team, I love Thomas Jane as the booth coach and hey....I really liked John C. McGinnley as the sports writer. A good ensemble cast...in parts that aren't what they are typically known for but come together here under Stones direction well.
You get foot ball from all sides from this film - the field, the administration, the personal, the injuries etc. And please, watch this film uncut and with good sound. The sound on this film is to die for! It is an ambitious work and it works big time.