Could it have been any longer and any worse?

Rating: 4/10 (3 January 2003)

I just had nothing to do, so I thought why not watch another movie about American football? The cast did look pretty good, with Al Pacino as the main actor. I now regret I didn't do something else in these over 160 minutes. I have sincerely never seen a movie that was so senseless, and so used as this one. None of the characters really do have some substance, and all the sudden changes in the plot are irrational. So are most of the characters.

SPOILERS
First of all, I think Cameron Diaz was totally out of place with this part. She just didn't fit in the picture, and I kind of felt a strange disgust each time I saw her on my TV screen during the movie. I mean, it's totally out of place to put a woman in general in the lead of such a horrible, utterly violent sport, which I must say, disgusts me. I just can't see what all this violence is about...but anyway, let's get back to the movie. Then there is the character of Jamie Fox, the new star Beamen. We see three faces of him...at first, a nice guy...then a guy whose got lost in his sudden fame...and then back to the nice guy. These changes are totally unfounded, and I really see no reason why they happen. It's just a way to waste some film. Al Pacino is the so called old-fashioned coach. He is the guy who wants the sport to be "pure". He cares about tradition. He just isn't in the right place...in that world corrupted by the taste of money. His character is also badly constructed. One time we hear that he ain't good for anything, then he's great again...it makes no sense!
I really didn't make much out at the beginning out of the scenes of the games...it was all so confusing, and as I have little knowledge of this sport, I thought it was all, again, without any real meaning.
The wonderful stories, about tradition and stuff are all old...nothing new in them. Then there was the end...I mean, what was that about? So stupid, and not needed. Just as the movie got a little more decent... I cam to the thought that this movie wanted to show how life in this sport is, for the guys who play it...but who is the fault for all the drugs, all the women and all the violence? What can you even expect from people who think only about money, and who play such a violent sport! I mean, the scene with the eye was just mad! All this film did was make me see how violent this sport really is, and I have to think that some people are just not thinking right if they like this...how can you enjoy such a grotesque game? I'll never come to understand some things. The good parts were very few...I can't even recall any. Oh, one more thing. Why, just why, did it have to be so long? Why show so many games? Again, without any real objective. If you really want to see a movie about this sport, then I recommend Remember the Titans. Yes, I know it's not the same thing, but at least it's something in that direction. I consider I am very generous as I mark this one with a 5. All for Pacino...I'm sorry he even got involved in this junk.