Aging football (gridiron on this side of
the pond) coach Tony D’Amato (Al Pacino) is struggling to keep up with
the pace of the modern game, its commercialisation, massive budgets and
bombast. A ruthless new owner (Cameron Diaz) and an ego-driven,
headstrong quarterback (Jamie Foxx) hardly help matters as The Miami
Sharks make their way towards the playoffs. The team’s aging captain
(Dennis Quaid) is injured, the team doctor (James Woods) is an
unscrupulous slimeball and countless sports reporters are questioning
D’Amato’s relevance in the faced-paced, flashy and technology-driven
climate that is American football in the present day.
This is one of Oliver Stone’s more
successful outings of the 90s, and some intelligent casting and a tight,
well-scripted screenplay ensure that the ego and adrenaline of the
modern game is captured in its entirety. The HD transfer is immaculate,
as is the TrueHD audio, and the disc is bursting with a
near-unprecedented amount of bonus features. There are separate
commentaries with writer/director Stone and co-star Jamie Foxx,
making-of and behind the scenes footage, deleted and extended scenes,
music videos, a gag reel and much more. Strangely enough the director’s
cut actually runs shorter than the theatrical version; 12 minutes of
footage have been excised from the original version and six minutes of
previously unseen material inserted, mainly, as Stone has said, to help
with pacing.
Well, it worked. The resultant 156-minute
edition is the definitive version of the film, and the expansive bonus
content and current asking price of around $20 offer further incentive
to those who saw this upon initial release in 1999. Newcomers to the
film will also find themselves far from disappointed. Foxx is brilliant
as the cocky young upstart enamoured of his own celebrity, Pacino
predictably strong as the grizzled old timer and Diaz also puts in one
of the best performances of her career. Add a rousing soundtrack, lots
of high-octane action and an immensely talented ensemble cast and the
result is a sporting classic that captures the essence of these
modern-day gladiators, as well as the ruthless, money-driven wranglings
that make it all possible.
Special Features
Commentary by Oliver
Stone
Commentary by Jamie
Foxx
Full Contact: The
Making of Any Given Sunday Documentary (25 mins)
13 Deleted and
Extended Scenes with optional commentary
Jamie Foxx Audition
Tape and Screen Tests
Gag Reel
Football Outtakes
Montage
Music-Only Track
Instant Replay:
Revisit the film’s hard-hitting football plays
The Art of Selling:
Theatrical poster campaign and design slide show
Stills Gallery
3 Music Videos by LL
Cool J and Jamie Foxx
