A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss.

Rating: Null/10 (11 September 2004)

Oliver Stone is probably one of the only directors in history who can make films based on a very wide range of subjects (The Vietnam War, JFK, Jim Morrison, Neo-Nazi's, Zombie Hands, War Time Photographers, Urban Road Trips, Football, and Alexander The Great) and still keep his own VERY VERY DISTINCT style. Let me try to prove my point: Steven Spielberg has a range of film-making like no one else, but unless you can identify the music he uses, you have no way of knowing it is a Spielberg film, he had no style to identify himself. Then again there are directors like Quentin Tarantino, his style of film-making is precise, you can tell when your watching a Tarantino flick, but Tarantino has no range, all of his films have been centered around the violence/crime genre. Stone on the other hand does have both range and trademark style. His flashy- dual colered-quick cut-slow motion, technique has been his calling card since JFK. But what happens when you take that technique and add it to something as everyday as football... ANY GIVEN Sunday happens.
ANY GIVEN Sunday is by far, not Stone's worst. In fact it's entertaining, if at the least tolerable. The plot of Sunday is well... empty. It's just a regular football story. It is when stone swoops in with his style that the film separate's from it's genre. The style is perfect for the game of football. Hard Hit's, good music, and a portrait of the sport like no other.
Acting: Excellent. Pacino gives a great performance, he plays a moderate man, who doesn't love yelling (now thats different). Diaz is excellent, one of her less sleazy and more real performances. Fox, Quaid, and Woods all do a great job as well. L.L. Cool. J. is to overblown, his performance is over-the-top and irritating at times.
Writing: OK. The plot is hollow but it builds a good foundation for the rest of the film to come together nicely.
Directing: Great. Classic Stone, blends perfectly with the game of football. Doesn't over direct as he did with "U-Turn" and isn't as egotistical as many critics claim.
Music: Great. Wonderful score and songs blend perfectly with the direction and story.
Overall: 7.5/10 NEED TO RENT, Worth a buy. (Suggested: DVD)