Review: Draft Day

by Trevor Kirkendall

★★★

“Draft Day” is a film that helps provide a little bit of insight into how a front office works on the first night of the National Football League’s draft. It’s a film football fans should be able to embrace. But for those who don’t care for the sport one way or another, it’s still going to be something you can like. It’s a simple premise – only taking place over the course of one day – and works very well thanks to a very concise story told very well.

Sonny Weaver, Jr. (Kevin Costner) is going to have a heck of a day. It’s the day of the NFL draft and it’s his second year as the general manager of the Cleveland Brown. The team’s owner Anthony Molina (Frank Langella) really wants him to make a splash. Sonny figures this means trading away his first round draft picks for the next three years to Seattle in exchange for this year’s number one pick. The top pick in the draft is thought to be Heisman Trophy winning quarterback from the University of Wisconsin Bo Callahan (Josh Pence), a once in a lifetime type of quarterback. This, of course, doesn’t sit well with Cleveland’s new head coach, Coach Penn (Denis Leary) who had his heart set on a top running back from Florida State Ray Jennings (Arian Foster – yes, that Arian Foster).

While most of us are probably very familiar with the whole NFL Draft process thanks to ESPN’s unflinching coverage of the event each year, the behind the scenes action is probably a little less known. I’m sure it’s unfamiliar territory for screenwriters Scott Rothman and Rajiv Joseph as well. A lot of work goes into designing the perfect draft board for all 32 NFL teams every year. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that each team has a small group of people already ranking the prospects for next year’s draft before this year’s draft even starts. “Draft Day” makes it look like Weaver is the only person in charge of all the decision making processes. But then again, it’s a movie. We’re always asked to suspend our disbelief to an extent.

This is all done for dramatic purposes and I understand that. This is a film where your expectations will determine how much you like it. If you’re looking for a film that’s going to give you a detailed overview of all the inner workings of NFL franchise’s draft day procedures, “Draft Day” isn’t it. However, “Draft Day” is still a very enjoyable movie. It takes the best dramatic moments of what probably happens in a draft room, and blends them into what ultimately amounts to very solid story.

Not only is Sonny the GM, but we’re also are treated to see much of his personal life as well. There’s his private relationship with the Browns’ salary cap manager Ali (Jennifer Garner). He’s also just lost his father Sonny Weaver, Sr. who is a Cleveland legend, coaching the Browns for years. Living in a father’s shadow isn’t easy, especially when the father is beloved by an entire city. The ongoing feud between Penn and Weaver occupies a good chunk of the story. Leary plays the roll well, one that I imagine is very consistent with many NFL head coaches and general managers. The only thing not believable about Penn is that he used to coach the Cowboys where, according to Penn, “they win.” He flaunts his Super Bowl ring every chance he gets. Except for the Cowboys have been the definition of mediocrity for the better part of a decade now, but I digress. There’s Weaver’s mother (Ellen Burstyn) who’s there to help add to the stress of Sonny’s day. She succeeds, part because of the character, but mostly because it’s Burstyn in the role.

There are too few scenes involving Costner and one of the potential draft picks, Ohio State linebacker Vontae Mack (Chadwick Boseman). The few we are treated too are some of the best scenes in the film. Boseman is a budding star and we should all be on the lookout for him to take Hollywood by storm. Many will remember his fiery performance as Jackie Robinson in last year’s “42” and we have his role as funk legend James Brown to look forward to this summer in “Get on Up.”  For a supporting role, his character is really well developed even in so few scenes. All the draft prospects are, for that matter. Once again showcasing the great writing by Rothman and Joseph.

However, there are many clichéd filled moments that clutter the script, particularly in characterization.  Weaver’s intern (Griffin Newman) is a walking cliché placed here only for the purposes of breaking up the dramatic moments with some humor. But there’s already enough genuine humor written into the script. Credit that to director Ivan Reitman (“Ghostbusters”) for being able to bring out the humor in the script and delicately balancing it against all the dramatic moments. This is one of his best films in years but let’s be honest, he hasn’t exactly been turning in gems for close to 20 years.

Still, “Draft Day” is surprisingly well done for a film that could have easily have fallen flat on its face. Most of this is thanks to the very well developed screenplay from Rothman and Joseph. For first time film writers, they really nailed it. There’s enough football in this film for football fans to like it, but there’s also a lot of personal drama and conflict for the non-fans. There’s nothing else really to it than that. Sometimes the simplest stories can have a lot of complex elements to it and be enormously satisfying in the end.