A solid movie which has a good cast and delivery to make it more than it is – still only decent, but everyone puts their back into it

Rating: Null/10 (14 November 2014)

This is a sports movie in the tradition of the films that Kevin Costner used to make when he was great – Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, Tin Cup; all films that blend aspects of sport into characters and relationship drama. This is not to say that Draft Day deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as those films, but just to mention that Costner is on home ground here. The plot centers around the piece of socialism which is Draft Day – where essentially the worst teams in the league get first pick of new players, but of course with lots of horse trading and deals done all around this system. So, basically a sports film about contracts and rosters – not on-field action.
Despite this it works well because it recognizes the drama of the day, with fans eagerly awaiting to see who their new star player will be – teams are made, as are young athlete millionaires. The film balances this well and has good forward motion; I mean, these are fictional players in a fictional draft but the drama of the trading is well done and you do tend to get drawn into it and enjoy the twists and the tension (even if you know generally that it will probably end well for those we are following). The split-screen conversations and the movement of the camera and the use of realistic sets and TV talking heads, all add to the feeling of realism and I enjoyed this aspect of it.
What doesn't work so well is the film trying to take this drama and fold in some personal drama in the way that the aforementioned films did so well. In this case it doesn't really convince and feels like it is part of the film because it has to be, rather than it genuinely being part of this character's day. This is a shame because it takes up the time, so why not make it work just as well as the main drama? Either way, it doesn't – it is not awful but it doesn't work. This is a shame for Garner in particular, but her male counterparts eat up the drama of the draft – with Costner leading the way well with this slow drawl adding a calm urgency and loads of starry supporting actors giving the feeling of quality and depth.
It isn't anything remarkable or special, but it is a perfectly decent sports film with an enjoyable sense of tension. Shame the human stuff doesn't work, but for those of us that enjoy listening to the drama of the last day of the transfer window on Radio Five Live (even though our teams are not involved) then this film catches that pretty well.