A Triumphant Sports-Drama

Rating: 8/10 (27 August 2014)

Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK)
Rating: 3.9/5 stars
A highly inspirational sports film in the truest sense. "Draft Day" has all the archetypal characteristics of a good sports tale without resorting to the usual clichés plaguing such films. Well, it does have a few clichés such as the triumph of the underdog and the never-say-die attitude of the protagonist, but then again, is it possible for any sports film to leave an impact sans certain clichés. The sports-drama is one genre where filmmakers find it most difficult to steer clear of certain kinds of scenes and moments, but a good writer knows how to construct such scenes and a competent Director knows how to handle their narration, so that the audience is left with a distinctive presentation of something they've seen before. It's here where Director, Ivan Reitman, and writers, Scott Rothman and Rajiv Joseph, score big time, as they've shrewdly pruned many familiar, unavoidable scenes and presented them in a revamped manner. Sample this; when Costner is giving the all too familiar motivational speech – a staple in sports films – he doesn't do so before the climax, but during the climax itself; at the very end. And he delivers it with with some unique quips, witty dialogues, and some memorable one-liners thrown in for added measure. More importantly, the speech is as much for himself as it is for his coterie; something arguably never seen in a sports film before, and this is just one of many well-written, brilliantly-directed scenes of the movie.
"Draft Day" tell a fictional tale of America's popular event, the "NFL Draft" - now almost a part of the nation's folklore – and how it can change the lives of both young football prospects and also seasoned professionals – for better or for worse. Sonny Weaver, the general manager of the Cleveland Browns, has the opportunity to rebuild his team when he trades for the number one pick. He must decide what he's willing to sacrifice on a life-changing day for a few hundred young men with NFL dreams. Along the way he also has to settle issues in his personal life with his pregnant girlfriend, Ali Parker - a financial lawyer also working with the Browns – his mother, who's only wishes are her son's attention and his responsibility to fulfill his father's dying wish, and finally his own reconciliation with the unresolved problems he faced with his father. To know how all this culminates on one fateful night and results in life-changing repercussions for a number of individuals you'll have to see this immensely entertaining film.
What elevates the drama, overall feel, and those familiar goosebumps we get from watching a great sports film are its performances, and "Draft Day" boasts of a number of fine, crackling performances by a top-notch ensemble cast (the casting director deserves special credit for this). Led by the ever-dependable Kevin Costner – who's lost none of his effortless, infectious charm – the cast draws us right into proceedings and ensures that we care about the outcome of their story arcs. While Costner competently shoulders the weight of the film as its leading man, he's surrounded by an impressively talented assortment of supporting actors such as Chadwick Boseman (you literally feel for his hopes and emotions), Denis Leary, Wade Williams, and legendary actors like Frank Langella and Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn. Even Jennifer Garner is surprisingly good as Costner's love interest. The entire cast seems to feed of each other and the cracker-jack of a script handed to them to effectively bring out the Director's vision on screen.
"Draft Day" is an exceptionally enjoyable film with immense repeat value. Though it's simply constructed and follows a by-the-numbers routine, it still takes a highly unconventional route for a sports film, as in all the drama happens off the field, and moreover, it packages itself as something fresh and revamped. The only other sports film that comes to mind, which took such an unconventional route yet triumphed was "Moneyball". "Draft Day" is a treat for fans of American football, fans of sports-dramas, and just about anybody who loves inspirational movies.