Any Given Sunday movie storyline. When a devastating hit knocks a professional football legend and quarterback Cap Rooney out of the game, a young, unknown third-stringer is called in to replace him. Having ridden the bench for years because of a string of bad luck stories and perhaps insufficient character, Willie Beaman seizes what may be his last chance, and lights up the field with a raw display of athletic prowess.
His stunning performance over several games is so outstanding and fresh it seems to augur a new era in the history of this Miami franchise, and forces aging coach Tony D’Amato to reevaluate his time-tested values and strategies and begin to confront the fact that the game, as well as post-modern life may be passing him by. Adding to the pressure on D’Amato to win at any cost is the aggressive young President / Co-owner of the team, Christina Pagniacci, now coming into her own after her father’s death. Christina’s driving desire to prove herself in a male dominated world is intensified by her focus on the marketing and business of football, in which all coaches and players are merely properties.
Any Given Sunday is a 1999 American sports drama film directed by Oliver Stone depicting a fictional professional American football team. The film features an ensemble cast, including Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Jamie Foxx, James Woods, LL Cool J, Ann-Margret, Lauren Holly, Matthew Modine, John C. McGinley, Charlton Heston, Bill Bellamy, Lela Rochon, Aaron Eckhart, Elizabeth Berkley, Marty Wright, and NFL players Jim Brown and Lawrence Taylor. It is partly based on the novel On Any Given Sunday by famed NFL defensive end Pat Toomay; the title is derived from a line in the book (also used in the film) that a team can win or lose on “any given Sunday”, said by the fictitious coach Tony D’Amato.
The film was shot in Miami, Florida and Irving, Texas. Miami’s Orange Bowl stadium represents the home of the fictitious American football team, the Miami Sharks.[4][5] When the team traveled to California, the stadium used was Pro Player Stadium, which is located in Miami Gardens. Texas Stadium is used for the home of the fictitious Dallas Knights.
Director Oliver Stone requested, but did not receive, the National Football League’s permission to use real NFL team logos and stadiums for the film. As a result, the fictional Associated Football Franchises of America (AFFA) was created (not to be confused with the real AFA). The AFFA apparently exists alongside the NFL, since the Miami Dolphins are mentioned.
For the scenes during a football game, production asked local schools to participate as extras for the film, including Lake Stevens Middle School in Miami, Florida. For each shot the crowd was asked to move around so that each section looked filled, in empty seats cardboard cutouts were placed in seats with balloons attached to them so that they would seem in motion.
On Google Earth, using the “historical imagery” button and setting the date to 2/20/1999, the Orange Bowl displays “Sharks” at each end zone. For the practice scenes they used the baseball arena Homestead Sports Complex.
The film also used Arena Football League players such Pat O’Hara, who played for the Tampa Bay Storm and now coaches the Orlando Predators, and Connell Maynor, who also played for the Orlando Predators and spent time as both a player and coach for the Philadelphia Soul. Bjorn Nittmo, then with the AFL’s Buffalo Destroyers, was the Sharks’ placekicker. Matt Martinez, a former Gurkha & ex-husband of Niki Taylor and linebacker for the AFL’s Miami Hooters, played himself, #31 for the Sharks.
Any Given Sunday (1999)
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Starring: Al Pacino, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, Matthew Modine, Charlton Heston, Ann-Margret, Aaron Eckhart, John C. McGinley, Lauren Holly
Screenplay by: John Logan, Oliver Stone
Production Design by: Victor Kempster
Cinematography by: Salvatore Totino
Film Editing by: Stuart Levy, Thomas J. Nordberg, Keith Salmon, Stuart Waks
Costume Design by: Mary Zophres
Set Decoration by: Ronald R. Reiss, Ford Wheeler
Art Direction by: Derek R. Hill, Stella Vaccaro
Music by: Richard Horowitz, Paul Kelly
MPAA Rating: R for strong language and some nudity / sexuality.
Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release Date: December 22, 1999
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