Difficult to follow if viewer is not a football fan...

Rating: 7/10 (9 January 2002)

I watched this movie on TV, dubbed in italian, as usual (following it in english was too difficult because of the slang!) The main problem I found was to follow the actions of the game: football is not very easy to understand for me, as I am italian and as I had never seen an american football match in my life. The only thing I got is that the QUARTER-BACK is a main figure in the game, and a lot depends on his action... But, because of the cast, because of the director, I thought it was worthwhile to take a look and... well, I anjoyed it. The plot is very involving, the techno music is pumping in the ears, the actions (although, as said, quite difficult to follow for a beginner) are incredible, and yet beautiful to see. Adrenaline is quite high for the most duration of the movie, and, as a matter of fact, Al Pacino is dubbed by a great italian actor, Giancarlo Giannini who had a pivotal part in "Hannibal" with Anthony Hopkins. The matter of all this is: is really America like this? Do really players hope just for as lot of money, drugs, girls, big houses and so on? Do doctors (James Woods) want to participate in such a business? What about the Hyppocratic Oath? OK, money is essential, but what about the real health of players? I admit that similar (or identical) facts may happen for italian football/soccer, but, is this real life? Why don't they care a bit more about their future? You cannot play a dangerous sport for a lifetime, so why not store some money for a better (and much "secure") future? In short: is really all "business"? Al Pacino, in a scene, says to a player something like "have fun, while you play!"... That's the point, on my very opinion. Being hit and punched and so on JUST for money and for fame, is that all? Is it worthwhile? A movie is much more important when it raises some questions in the spectator's mind; "Any Given Sunday" also gave me some answers: when in business, there are no friends, no family, no other principles that may be followed. Business is finalized to itself: the more you're in it, the more you've got to take advantage from it, and continue, until you're laying down, with no power in your body and in your soul anymore. I anjoyed so much the lots of songs (not only the "spoken" ones, like rap, which is almost uncomprehensible for me) played during the movie, the actions in quite total silence were great, the playing of the actors very intense. It's difficult to explain my thoughts in english, but I gave a vote of 7/10 to this movie; this should explain itself my opinion... A masterpiece for people who do not understand anything about football, who don't understand a single word of "rap" songs, who don't understand anything about "getting into business", but like the great actions, the great actors, the great directors and the good music. I am happy I've watched this one! One more thing: if you liked this movie, I strongly recommend to take a look at "Remember the Titans" with Denzel Washington. So different (yet so similar!), it's interesting to follow the same kind of actions from different points of view...