Skip to main content

'Draft Day' captures the hope and despair of the Cleveland Browns

Kevin Costner's Sonny Weaver, GM of the Cleveland Browns, has
one hell of a 'Draft Day.'
Review by Scott Dodson
Being a Cleveland sports fan is unlike any other fan in the country.  We've seen the Fumble.  We've seen The Shot.  We've watched our closer blow a lead in the seventh game of the World Series.  We've seen some very good teams, and we've seen some very bad teams.  Boston fans would claim strict allegiance to Red Sox nation while hoisting the Lombardi Trophy high above their heads.  Those "lovable losers" of Chicago weren't complaining when Michael Jordan filled his hand with rings.

Cleveland sports fans have now watched over 140 consecutive seasons without winning a championship.
Yet, hope springs eternal here.  We hold out hope that, this year, our pitching holds up while ignoring a glaring lack of power hitting.  We pray that we catch lightning in a bottle as we sign injury prone point guards.  And draft day has become the town's de facto Super Bowl.
It's no surprise that the Cleveland Browns' franchise was chosen as the team to focus on in the upcoming film Draft Daybut it is surprising that the film manages to grasp and explain what it feels like to be a Cleveland sports fans. It's an interesting tale with some real world inspiration, it's funny, and it will leave you wishing that we were preparing for the upcoming season.  The cinematography was used effectively to make telephone conversations interesting, and (overall) made for a great watch.
Sonny Weaver Jr (Kevin Costner) is the embattled GM of the Cleveland Browns as the film opens.  It's draft day, and the day could not have come at a worse time in his life.  His late father was the beloved coach of the Browns the previous season, and Sonny fired him.  His (secret) girlfriend Ali (Jennifer Garner) told him that she is pregnant with their child, and everybody is still reeling from Coach Weaver's death (one week earlier).
Draft DayThe Browns have the number 7 pick in today's draft, and are taking a hard look at linebacker Vontae Mack (Chadwick Boseman) (who they know they can get) and running back Ray Jennings (Arian Foster) (who is falling in the draft due to an incident).  In the midst of this, the Seattle Seahawks (who have the first pick) contact Sonny regarding a possible trade.  The marquee player of the draft is Heisman trophy winning quarterback Bo Callahan (Josh Pence). Sonny knows he has to make a splash in the draft or risk being run out of town, so this trade is quite appealing.
Sonny ultimately makes the deal, and the Seattle franchise is celebrating its fleecing of the Browns.  The Browns owner (Frank Langella) loves the deal as it gives him the notoriety he craves, but the Browns new coach (Denis Leary) hates the deal.  The Browns sell the farm to make the deal (which, according to the Seattle GM, is ok as "the farm sucks anyways"), and the rest of the day is dealing with the repercussions of the move.  Sonny's "weak kneed" quarterback (Tom Welling) demands a trade as he believes Sonny has lost faith in him.  Coach Penn (Leary) passive aggressively confronts Sonny throughout the day.  Ali is becoming annoyed at her role in Sonny's life, and his mother (still grieving) shows up demanding his time as well.
As the draft start quickly descends upon the group, they begin the vetting process of Bo Callahan.  Mysterious questions arise, and Sonny is left wondering whether he "sold the farm" for a bust.
Draft Day surprisingly captures the hope and despair of the Cleveland Browns.  We tend to be quite self deprecating about our team, and so is the film.  By using ESPN 850 Hosts Tony Rizzo and Aaron Goldhammer throughout, the film captures the voice of a fan relating this instead of just taking cheap shots from an outsider.  Initially, the film does walk you to the ledge.  However, it backs us off slowly while building our hope.  (And, slight spoiler, the film ends at a proper place:  Before anybody plays one down this fall.).  The hope is left intact.
The film had some interesting cinematography as well.  As most of the action of the film is last minute telephone calls between business men across the country, we were't subjected to cut backs repeated.  It goes split screen, and the screens will cross over or into each other.  It reminded me of Zombieland when the rules of survival were plastered to the background during certain scenes.  
The acting is pretty good, and Rick (the intern) steals the show here in comic relief.  Sonny and Ali seem like an unlikely couple on paper, but the characters work well here.  Ali seemed quite soft spoken for her role in the organization, but, other than that, the characters fit their parts perfectly.  While Foster looked was good as the nervous prospect, Sean Combs was not good as Bo's agent.
If you are a Browns fan, you'll love Draft Day.  If you love the NFL, you'll like the film.  If you don't like either, the popcorn's good, there's a trailer for Step Up:  All In attached to the film, and Rick (the intern) is funny.  It's worth a watch, and it makes you proud (but sad) to be a fan of the Cleveland Browns.
Scott Dodson proudly writes for www.scaretissue.com and moderates the popular forum at www.killthecan.org.  Scaretissue.com is a horror movie review site that will be sponsoring the Eerie Horror Film Festival this October. He's an avid Cleveland sports fan, married father of two, and huge movie fan. You can follow him on twitter at @_trapjaw_.

Comments

Popular Posts

Mike Judge's 'Automated Trucking' one of several films awarded tax credits for 2025

Mike Judge and Alec Berg, creators of 'Automated Trucking' >>> Automated Trucking , a new comedy feature from Mike Judge, creator of Office Space , Beavis and Butthead , and King of the Hill , will shoot in Ohio this year - but where in Ohio is the real question. Automated Trucking was one of 14 projects awarded more than $26 million of $33 million in tax credits from the Ohio Department of Development’s Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program (OMPTC) aimed at boosting production and infrastructure across the state.  The newly launched Ohio Film & Theater Capital Improvements Tax Credit Program (OFATCI) will provide more than $7.3 million to support capital improvements for film and theater production. "Our film tax credits bring producers and stars to Ohio, and they create opportunities for the local businesses, skilled trades, and creatives already here," said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. "The expansion of film in...

Aaron Schoonover and Nic Neary return to Wadsworth to shoot 'Meteor Anne' this summer

Filmmakers and friends, Aaron Schoonover and Nic Neary >>> What happens when an ordinary life collides with something extraordinary? Ohio filmmaker Aaron Schoonover brings that question to life this summer as he begins production on Meteor Anne in Wadsworth, Ohio , alongside producer, friend and fellow Wadsworth High School alum, Nic Neary. Inspired by true events, Meteor Anne tells the story of a woman struck by a meteorite — the first person in recorded history, in fact — whose life goes viral once the news hits the 24-hour cycle. At first, Anne avoids the spotlight. But as her husband encourages her to embrace her newfound fame, she’s swept up in interviews, public appearances, and even meets her celebrity crush at a live TV taping. When her 15 minutes end as quickly as they began, Anne struggles to return to normal life. The project was one of 14 projects recently awarded support from Ohio’s Motion Picture Tax Credit Program . We caught up with Schoonover and Neary to...

What's so 'Freaky' about Cleveland screenwriter Michael Kennedy?

Kathryn Newton and Vince Vaughn When Michael Kennedy was 16 years old, growing up in North Olmsted, Ohio, a group of his high school friends convinced him to get in a car, cruise to Westgate Mall , and buy tickets to see this new Drew Barrymore romantic comedy titled Scream.  You know, the “romantic comedy” in which the masked killer dispatches Barrymore within the film’s first 10 minutes? The “romantic comedy” that completely turned the horror genre on its head, created by Cleveland’s own Wes Craven ? The uber meta motion picture that would change 16-year-old Michael Kennedy’s life forever? Yep, that Scream . “The thing is, I didn’t grow up on a diet of horror movies, and I think my friends knew this,” Kennedy says. They probably imagined they’d get a bit of bonus entertainment watching Kennedy squirm in his seat. “But here’s the thing. Within the first five minutes, I was completely enamored.” Flash forward nearly 25 years. Now it’s Kennedy’s turn to splatter the screen with lov...