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