Oliver Stone succeeds were others have failed

Rating: 9/10 (18 May 2001)

American football is a recurring theme - the sports is adrenaline packed which makes it a major candidate for a good 'action' film. Such films circle around common plots - a team in crisis, an emerging genial quarterback, team bonding, and great speeches before the game. And this is not to different from the rest. However, the characters in the film are depicted in such a way as to make them seem more real - with all their flaws and fears - such that at the end we are left with a balance of heroes and villians. The film is embraced with great acting (Al Pacino is superb), great actors, great action, and great words (Al Pacino's speech before the final game is awesome). The film is a typical Oliver Stone production - a hybrid between film and documentary. Great shots, music, words but at the same time an exploration into the word of sports - the players both on and off the field - and the tough decisions that have to made to make it in the game.
A film to be watched more than once.