Review of Draft Day (2014) by Joel M — 16 Nov 2014

I would not select "Draft Day" as the best movie of 2014, especially of what is still available on the cinematic board that we still have to see. Nonetheless, Director Ivan Reitman's sports flick is still worth scouting. Kevin Costner stars as Sonny Weaver Jr., the NFL Cleveland Browns General Manager, who must make some crucial decisions on the team's draft. The film follows Weaver as he weaves himself into a wide array of conflicts & dilemmas during an entire draft day that include not only NFL draft personnel decisions, but also personal agendas of his much younger pregnant girlfriend Ali (who also happens to be the team's CFO) and conflicts with his overbearing mother Barb. Jennifer Garner and Ellen Burstyn did not really score too many thespian points with their mediocre performances as Ali & Barb. However, I would not trade Costner's impressive performance as Weaver for nothing. On paper, the film is not a brilliant piece of filmmaking; which the same could be said of NFL Draft prospects. But if you are a NFL fan, you will touch down and relate to all the football jargon, dealings, and excitement. Oh one extra point before I leave, if you are a Fantasy Football fanatic (present company included), you will even like "Draft Day" a bit more. I think you should feel a draft coming in, and don't turn over away from "Draft Day".

**** Good.