Ivan Reitman's "Draft Day," our first foray into a group of films that illuminates the behind-the-scenes worlds of sports, is an absolute winner. Written by the playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph and Scott Rothman, this film is a lovely moral play. Filled with complex characters, the film centers around Kevin Costner's Sonny Weaver, the GM for the Cleveland Browns, and follows him from the moment he puts on his suit's cuff links until the annual draft comes to its nightly conclusion.
Beleaguered from all sides by imbroglios and conundrums - a mistress / co-worker (Jennifer Garner) who is pregnant and wants to get the verdict on whether to have the baby or not, an owner (Frank Langella) threatening to fire Weaver if he doesn't make a "splash," a head coach (Denis Leary) who is combative and headstrong about the players he wants, a current QB (Tom Welling) struggling for job security, a mother (Ellen Burstyn) who wants to spread his late father's ashes on the Browns's practice field (apropos, given it is named after him - he was, after all, the former Browns coach), and a trio of primary prospective players (Chadwick Boseman / Josh Pence / Arian Foster) who all have different blemishes, flaws, skills, and character traits - Sonny endures a day for the record books.
Filled with dramatic last-second negotiations, witty dialogue, and lots of interpersonal revelations that offer insight and poignancy, "Draft Day" is gripping and unpredictable and always well written. With comedic aspects (Rick the intern!), a realistic romance (grounded by the always wonderful Garner), and in-depth explorations of all that goes into the draft, this film earns the viewer's respect and attention. Intermingling real life NFL personalities, and lots of references to classic NFL trivia, "Draft Day" does a spectacular job of interweaving its fictitious world with the real one: creating an end product that feels both elevated yet mostly credible.
