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From Amazon.co.uk
Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday is a massive 150-minute American football drama which, for all its ferocity and cynicism, is as soft-centred and clichéd as any Rocky-style underdogs-make-good crowd-pleaser. The Miami Sharks have lost three games in a row and their coach, Al Pacino in an intense performance as the only half-decent major character in the film, faces crisis when untested quarterback Willie Beamen (an excellent Jamie Foxx) becomes an overnight star. Fame goes to Beamen's ego; manager Cameron Diaz ruthlessly wheels-and-deals; and team doctor James Woods sacrifices medical ethics for his career. The Gladiator-esque close-up "shakycam" visuals reflect the player's POV yet make many scenes almost incomprehensible, while the ludicrously fragmented (seven composers, 80 songs) rap-metal-ambient soundtrack obscures much of the dialogue. The world of American football is presented as brutal, nightmarish and corrupting, the players mainly drug-taking, money-grubbing, whoring, foul-mouthed barbarians. So when Stone's last act offers his hollow men as heroes, mythological noble warriors incarnate, the attempted feel-good finale rings seriously false. Stone exposed the rotten heart of the American dream to infinitely greater effect in JFK (1991), is here too much in love with his target for the shots to hit home. --Gary Dalkin
On the DVD: The first disc presents the director's cut of Any Given Sunday. The UK cinema cut was nine minutes shorter than the US release. The director's cut starts with the longer US version, removes 11 minutes, adds six, including one of the most shocking and horrifying images seen on screen in some time, then re-edits several other sequences. Stone's commentary ranges far and wide, and he is far more interesting and thought-provoking to listen to than his film is to watch. The anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 image and Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack are both flawless.
The second disc is divided into pre-game, half-time and post-game sections, beginning with Jamie Foxx's audition video and screen tests and a routine 27-minute making-of documentary. Halftime consists of two music videos by Jamie Foxx (both anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1) and one by LL Cool J. Post-game offers three sets of outtakes set to music, a stills gallery, a collection of advertising images and 33 minutes of deleted scenes with optional commentary from Stone. Completing an exceptional set of extras are DVD-ROM features on scripting and editing, plus reviews, a quiz and the complete original promotional Web site.
Product Description
Subtitles: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Will
Format:DVD
Any Given Sunday is a great piece of film making, if slightly tarred by an overly polished Hollywood format. What I mean is, it has all of the [Oliver] Stone ingredients we've come to expect; various video formats, a seemingly incongruous mix of camera angles and close-ups and some amazing performances, but minus the imperfections. So what you say, well sometimes it's those little accidental nuances that turn a good movie into an amazing one. AGS is a piece of highly professional, polished movie making - but at the end of the day it's just a good movie, not an amazing one.
The performances are just fantastic, Pacino whilst not as intense as in say "Heat" really drives the movie and doesn't for a second let you question whether he's a football coach. You just BELIEVE it, when he's shouting you think it's at you. James Woods is typically side-lined, no pun intended, but what time he is on screen he's James Woods through and through. Why this guy is never given bigger parts I'll never know. Cameron Diaz' is one of the most surprising characters. When Charlton Heston says "I actually believe this woman would eat her young" (line of the movie right there) you totally empathise. She's ruthless, self-opinionated and such a b***h. But it's no facade, she really throws herself into the part and the results are great.
The actual film itself is an amazing piece of work. It's like some sort of drug; it's cocktail of visual and audio mixing is so intense, so in your face you soon get totally sucked in. The on-field football action is incredible, when the tackles come in you find yourself tensing your whole body waiting for the impact.
... Read more ›4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is easily one of the best sports films you will ever see. It has a great cast(Jamie Foxx and Al Pacino to new but a few) great set pieces( especially the big game) and a pretty brutal potrayal of American Football players. Al Pacino is simply great as Tony Damato and without doubt his "Inch by Inch" speech is one of the greatest in film. It always inspires you no matter how many times you hear it. Even the supposedly minor characters such as LL Cool J have enough time to make an impression. If you watch this i would recommend watching Friday Night Lights which shows the sport at a lower level.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Another superb film by Oliver Stone. This film makes you feel, as if you are on the field and playing football. Wonderful cast, Al Pacino is cracking as always. Brilliant soundtrack and lots of extras. DO NOT MISS!!!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Please don't fall into the trap of thinking that knowing American Football is a requirement for watching 'Any given sunday'. As long as you know that AF has an Offense and a Defense, that's about all the knowledge you require to enjoy this gem. It's the story of a struggling team that is fortunate/unfortunate to discover they have a star player amongst their backups. The player becomes a bit too big for his boots and as a consequence causes a major divide between the team, coach and boardroom.
It's a great insight into the sport and the internal mechanics of a team. With no knowledge of the sport, you should enjoy a great storyline coupled with great acting.
Perfectly cast Al Pacino is on fire, Cameron Diaz acting (before she reverted to family fun/voiceover easy money again) and a brilliant Jamie Foxx bursted onto the scene. All backed up with a fantastic supporting cast (way too many to list) and Oliver Stone on top form.
The transfer is great, clean and crisp. It's a colourful sport and the HD helps complement that. Sound is, Dolby TrueHD giving us a pretty authentic sound of the stadium during the action scenes.
Audio: Spanish DD; French DD; German DD; Italian DD.
Subs: Portuguese; Danish; Dutch; Finnish; French; German; Italian; Korean; Norwegian; spanish; Swedish
It's a great insight into the sport and the internal mechanics of a team. With no knowledge of the sport, you should enjoy a great storyline coupled with great acting.
Perfectly cast Al Pacino is on fire, Cameron Diaz acting (before she reverted to family fun/voiceover easy money again) and a brilliant Jamie Foxx bursted onto the scene. All backed up with a fantastic supporting cast (way too many to list) and Oliver Stone on top form.
The transfer is great, clean and crisp. It's a colourful sport and the HD helps complement that. Sound is, Dolby TrueHD giving us a pretty authentic sound of the stadium during the action scenes.
Audio: Spanish DD; French DD; German DD; Italian DD.
Subs: Portuguese; Danish; Dutch; Finnish; French; German; Italian; Korean; Norwegian; spanish; Swedish
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
This was truly an excellent film. This movie is Oliver Stone's best since Platoon. The fast-moving and dizzying cinemaphotography fits the high adrenaline atmosphere of the professional football world well. The film is also perfectly cast. Pacino gives life to the head coach, and Cameron Diaz's clearly most intense role as the team's owner is believeable. James Woods gives an excellent performance as the team doctor, who doesn't really seem to care about anyone but himself. Jamie Foxx has a breakthrough dramatic role as the new hotshot quarterback, whose ritualistic vomiting adds humor to the movie. With his performance, we find out Foxx really can act. LL Cool J, also puts through a convincing performance as the team's running back. Dennis Quaid doesn't really do much as the former QB with injury problems except help to develop Pacino's character. An outstanding cast, that features Charlton Heston as the football comissioner, and Ann-Margaret as Cameron Diaz's alcoholic mother. Former pro football players Jim Brown and Lawrence Taylor pop up as members of the team. I recommend it highly. This is possibly the best sports movie ever made.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Any Given Sunday isn't about American football. It's about humanity. It's about how people with different agenda's different priorities, different backgrounds and generations co-exist. In this movie they don't. Stones captures the inner turmoil suffered by prominent indiviuals involved in the game of football with typical panache. He's moved on a lot since JFK, he still wants to make a point and where there is no political axe to grind, he focuses on everyday life, with everyday problems that in truth are bigger than we could always ever credit. Stone puts a lot of things into perspective for us. Pacino, as ever, gives a mean performance, newcomer Jamie Foxx should have joined hollywooods a-list with this performance and Cameron Diaz proves that she is more than just a pretty face. A brilliant awe inspiring movie.
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
good film
I'm not a fan of American football nor do I have a clue how its played, but the film itself was still entertaining.
Published 1 month ago by scott
2.0 out of 5 stars
Quite Basic, With One Slightly Stirring Speech
Not one of Al Pacino's finer film moments in my opinion. Towards the end he gives a slightly stirring speech in the locker room before the big game but it doesn't send shivers down... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Richie77777
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic!
Awesome service and the DVD arrived before it was meant to as well which was a bonus, will use agin in the future!
Published 6 months ago by Keith Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Film!
Loved it, would definitely recommend this film - good story and great action scenes. Al Pacino is great as the coach.
Published 6 months ago by andyc13
5.0 out of 5 stars
any given Sunday
Awesome movie. You have to watch this actors movie. Al pacino at his very best. An all star cast which compliments it well.
Published 10 months ago by Pen Name
2.0 out of 5 stars
One trick pony
If you're into American Football, you'll probably love this film. I bought it for the rousing speech that Al Pacino makes to the team. Let me explain. Read more
Published 12 months ago by H. C. Blackburn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oliver Stone is sooo the best directer EVER !!
Hey sports fans !! I love the inspirational speech in this and the whole film has a Rocky type under dog theme going for it !! Read more
Published 13 months ago by davidinator
5.0 out of 5 stars
great film
for any nfl fan any given Sunday is a great film, also it has one of the greatest ever half time speeches!!
Published 16 months ago by kitkatprag
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
It does not matter whether or not you like American Football. In fact this could be just about any sport. Its not relevant. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Kernetta
2.0 out of 5 stars
Abysmal audio again.
What it is with these blurays where you have to whack the sound up (either on a t.v or a speaker) to 100 just to hear the poxy things....It's a joke.Utterly ridiculous... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Thylasin
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