Emotions and Analysis of Film and Cinema

One of the last great films I have seen is “Any Given Sunday” directed by Oliver Stone and starring Al Pacino, Denis Quaid, and Jammie Fox. “Any Given Sunday” is a feature film I viewed on television at home and thoroughly enjoyed. Throughout the movie I was really pulled in and captivated by the film. Football appeals to me as a sports fan and Stone does an exemplary job of showing the nature of the sport in all aspects. The tension between the actors in certain parts of the film is mind gripping and the plot thickens as the film progresses. The film brings out the best of emotions in the viewers as shock, joy, and sadness are all conveyed. Almost every scene I was on the edge of my seat in suspense wondering what would happen next. The movie leaves a lasting vivid image in the viewer’s mind and is a great cinematic production. 

Stone’s film focuses on the reality and drama of a football team and its players. The aspects of greed, glory, fame, and a love of the game of football are shown throughout the film in one of Stone’s best films ever. The football team called the “Sharks” experience the drama of loosing their starting quarterback and an “old school” coach if you will, dealing with a new brash and arrogant quarterback taking over his team to make the playoffs. Stone uses classic Hollywood style to tell his story and show his film to the viewer. 

The film uses very little special effects since Oliver Stone wanted to create real images of the football players and real hits and tackles during the game. By shooting real images of football, the game and the action all come to life. However, Stone makes great use of shot duration, camera movement, montage, and sound. Shot duration is one of the biggest effects that Stone emphasis in his film. He creates long takes by showing the film to the viewer in slow motion at certain points and rapidly speeds up the action at other times to give a dramatic affect and to alert his audience that a pivotal point in the film is about to occur.