7/10

Jennifer Garner’s character in this film says the quote “Some roads are filled with misery, and those are the right roads”. This quote has said so much for the history of the Cleveland Browns franchise. They have always been on the opposing side of winning. So naturally, a studio has to make a film about them someday. Draft Day tells the story of Sonny Weaver JR (Kevin Costner) who is the GM for the Cleveland Browns. He is given news that this will probably be his final season with the team, so he has to put all of his chips in on this season to be a winner. I personally enjoyed Draft Day. It’s not one of the best sports films of all time, but it does leave a lasting impression on any Browns fan or Ohio resident. It’s a film that goes way beyond football. Director Ivan Reitman takes a lot of long exclusive shots of the city of Cleveland edited with the history of the Browns history. I personally appreciate a film that isn’t afraid to show a city that isn’t LA or New York. There are plenty of Browns fans ironies in the film that i won’t spoil for you here. These are the lines that are bound to leave a laugh or giggle among anyone who is well versed in this team’s history. This film also did something i have never seen with the editing features. With this film taking place on the day of the draft, there is naturally a lot of phone calls in the film. When this happens, you get the typical side by side split screen shot, but there is something more to this. One guy can step into another guy’s half of the screen and it makes it seem like they are in the same room together. I thought this feature was really cool, and required several double takes when you first see it. The cinematography is a little amateur as it sometimes seems like you are watching a cheaply made indie film. For anyone who has seen the Akron Soap Box Derby film “22 Hill”, you will understand completely what i mean. The cast takes each role about as far as you can go. Jennifer Garner plays the financial worker for the team as well as Costner’s love interest. Frank Langella is good as the owner of the team who doesn’t always know what is best for them. Terry Crewes and P Diddy also show up to make some well cast cameos. Diddy in particular is in the role he was born to play as a fast talking agent of the biggest star in the draft. Denis Leary totally stole the film though as the know it all head coach who coached the Dallas Cowboys to a super bowl win 2 years prior. His chemistry with Costner keeps the audience on their toes at the right moments when the movie almost drifts off. The draft itself is written unpredictably, but it’s just so far fetched. Some of the deals done by the other teams in the film would have them losing their jobs in a matter of days. If the draft happened that way, then everyone would be a winner. In my eyes, it is redeemed by the end because (Minor spoilers) they don’t show what happens with the Browns on the next season. So it’s left totally up to the viewers mind if these moves paid off. Some people might have a problem with that but i don’t. It’s no secret that new teams need chemistry to gel together, so there is a chance this team didn’t get it done after all of these moves. Overall, Draft Day is a welcomed experience for Northeast Ohio patrons. It gives us our day in the sun, and that sun should shine the brightest for those fans who spend their hard earned dollars on a team that isn’t always rewarding. This is your day Browns fans. This film is a love letter to you for your dedication to being the best fans in sports, and that is from a Cowboys fan