Kevin Costner rules

Rating: 7/10 (22 May 2014)

In general I like sports films and I like Kevin Costner sports films, Field of Dreams and For Love of the Game are great, but in this film our little wolf dancer's film is about American football and not baseball. The film was written by a new script writing pair and Ivan Reitman is in the director's chair. It's interesting Ivan Reitman was one of the biggest starts in the 80s, with directing films like Ghostbusters and Twins, then he disappeared for a few years and the Reitman name is mostly known now because of his son. Because of all this this is typically the type of film that had me thinking I would be pleased, but I wasn't really expecting too much. And what did I get? It's interesting. Imagine an action flick about American football where we never see a ball once, and the whole thing is like an ad, with a genius main actor. That's Draft Day. So let's talk about the story: On the day of the fictionalized 2014 NFL Draft, the consensus number one pick is a University of Wisconsin quarterback, Bo Callahan, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Cleveland Browns General Manager Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner), whose father coached the Browns and was fired by his son and passed away a week before the draft, are holding the seventh overall pick. He is given the opportunity to trade for the 1st overall draft pick, held by a fictionalized version of the Seattle Seahawks and his boss and owner. Weaver is also recently aware of the pregnancy of his girlfriend Ali Parker (Jennifer Garner) with his child. Parker also works for the Browns as a lawyer concerned with ensuring the integrity of the Browns' salary cap, and their relationship is intended to be secret from the rest of the Browns staff. The truth is, that the story just shows us what a Draft is in a split screen action film. I kept thinking about two things during the film. Moneyball, and kids sitting around trading baseball cards and talking about players. That's all. Is that enough for a film? It is  but The film is quick, it doesn't get boring and the actors are good. Especially Costner and Dennis Leary. And anyone who likes AFL will find it interesting and I think will enjoy it. The problem to me starts with the fact that there is no back story beside the action. Or I should say nothing too deep. Just think about For Love of the Game, it was just about baseball, but oh the story line behind the game A whole life. What's the story here? Nothing. It didn't make the film bad, it just could have been so much more, maybe seeing more of Costner's character's private life, his tragedies, but alas. I thought the storyline was the biggest problem. The script is written well, it's just the story that wasn't really worked out fully and you can feel it, with a little more work it could have been a fantastic sports film. All in all because I like sports films, and AFL and Kevin Costner I liked this film, but in my humble opinion if someone isn't really interested in the intrigue of the behind the scenes of the AFL, specifically the way the draft works I don't think they'll like this film. It would just be a boring film about things they don't really understand. That's why I give it a 6/10, but it would be less if I was an impartial viewer.