Draft Day Movie Review

Draft Day is a 2014 movie starring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner, and directed by Ivan Reitman.  The movie was released on April 11, 2014.  The story is centered on Sonny Weaver, Jr. (Costner), the general manager of the Cleveland Browns, and how he orchestrates his player selections after acquiring the number one pick in the NFL player draft.

Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner star in the 2014 movie Draft Day

The acting in Draft Day is poor.  Mind you, Costner and Garner are fine, but the supporting acting is weak to say the least.  Remarkably, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell might have done the best acting job of them all.  Although Goodell’s cameo appearances are brief and essentially non-consequential to the plot, in all cases Goodell is natural and believable.

Draft Day is poorly written and shaky.  Throughout the film, people are doing and saying things they would never do or say in real life.  An example: Sonny’s mom, played by Ellen Burstyn, insists on spreading her late husband’s ashes on the team’s practice field literally hours before the player draft is to begin, much to the angst of Sonny.  What the hell?  Further, the movie tries to paint Sonny in a valiant light – but it’s pure luck, not keen heroics, which ultimately determines the movie’s outcome.

There are some positives to take away from the film.  If you’re a football fan, it’s fun to see the many prominent NFL stars and figures sprinkled throughout.  And if you’re like me, as someone that enjoys watching the drama of the actual NFL player draft on TV, your appetite will be whetted.

In summary, the movie was weak.  If you’re not a football fan, I would definitely steer clear.  If you love football, however, and are the type that actually tunes in to the real NFL draft, it might be worth a look.