Great Movie for NFL Fans (Basic Football Explanation Included for Reference)

Rating: 7/10 (26 February 2017)

This is one of the better efforts I've seen that depicts what goes on behind the scenes in the National Football League during the actual draft. The film starts with a quote which describes everything you need to know before digging in:
"32 Teams, 7 Rounds, 224 Young men who today are about to become players in the National Football League. A day where lives are changed, fates are decided, dynasties are born. And the clock is always ticking. Of course, I'm talking about draft day."
Kevin Cosner is the real star here, giving an outstanding performance as the General Manager of a losing Cleveland Browns franchise. He is under an unbelievable amount of pressure to choose the best plan of action AND draft picks in order to correct the string of losses and inevitably save his own job.
That's really all there is to it. This is a very accurate rendition of how a draft works behind the scenes, showing how coaches and GM's call one another to negotiate deals in a far less formal way than you may imagine. They all have a deep passion for this game, as many Americans do.
What really won me over was the way that this builds up from the days before draft day right into the actual draft picks as the clock ticks. I actually felt the tension and was noticeably stressed out while watching them debate what to do next. The film was one giant crescendo to the very end.
REGARDING THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH FOOTBALL:
In much the same way that many Americans will watch films about soccer, rugby and cricket, this is no exception. I've watched the likes of "Death of a Gentleman" (Cricket), "Invictus" (Rugby), or Becoming Zlatan (European football) and managed to follow. Draft Day is no exception.
Here are a few things for the unfamiliar that might help when watching:
the way all these teams get talented new players is largely through a system set up by the league. Just like soccer teams have junior divisions, in football they take their picks from the best players on American college football teams. There really is no other way of finding high-quality athletes who can compete in this sport unless they were on a college team (generally, but there are exceptions).
So on draft day, all football teams are given a number which determines the order for taking turns picking the best players all college teams across the country. This order is determined based on how well a team did the previous season (the last place team will pick first the following year, often getting the best college talent).
This is of course is just the general idea. From that 1st pick, the teams all take turns selecting from remaining players to fill the positions they are in need of stronger talent. It's a giant game of strategy, trying to get more quality players that are needed at different positions before someone else comes and takes them.
Hopefully this helps. There have not been any films that I have seen depict the strategy that goes into the draft (selection process) in the NFL. It is also a big deal for the players who want to be picked, because they are not allowed to make any money while playing football in college (don't ask why, it just works that way). So to be picked is likened to finding out you have won the lottery (finally going to make good money).
And finally, regardless of opinion, this was made for just $25 million (USD) which is next to nothing comparing to your average run-of-the-mill budget.
----- 7/10 STARS -------- Review by Searsino -----