MovieChat Forums > Any Given Sunday (1999) Discussion > Al Pacino DOES NOT come off as an NFL He...

Al Pacino DOES NOT come off as an NFL Head Coach

posted 15 years ago by ANGRYal
15 replies | jump to latest

I really liked this film, I really did.

I like Al Pacino as an actor a lot...a whole lot. I just think he was HORRIBLY miscast as a football head coach in this film. It doesn't matter to me how much he yelled or cursed or tried to talk football, it just didn't work. His personality and his attire are more suited for a conference room than a football sideline. Every time he tried to use football terminology, it just sounded foolish coming out of his mouth.

Oliver Stone, artistically, is a terrific filmmaker and this was another good film he's made. Pacino is a terrific actor and while I'm afraid I have to consider this film a career low-point for him, it wasn't Al's fault, he was just miscast.

[–] pioneers74 14 years ago

You should youtube video of Nick Saban pre game speeches and you will see he was not miscast

[–] SCBRoslyn 14 years ago

I agree wholeheartedly regarding Pacino being miscast!

The entire performance felt forced. Like he-was-trying-to-say-things-he felt-an-NFL-coach-would-say. Very robotic.

[–] [email protected] (2030) 7 months ago

Yeah it's not like the dialogue was written for him.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] LarryStudios 13 years ago

If Pacino was a miscast you should then let people know what you would've picked instead of him....

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] doodleboy 12 years ago

he's wearing A SUIT on the sidelines! He looks the same as he did in HEAT.

I know older types (Landry, etc) might wear a suit, but jeez. How about a team-gear polo shirt? Or a sweater or something? can't be hotter than that suit-jacket.

[–] jefgg 12 years ago

In 2006 NFL head coaches Mike Nolan and Jack Del Rio wore dress suits on the sidelines. They needed permission from the NFL because of their merchandising contract with Reebok. When Nolan and Del Rio expressed interest in wearing suits Reebok designed something for them. Before that Dan Reeves was last NFL coach to wear a suit on the sideline. Coaches have been required to wear team issued clothing since 1993. I think Mike Ditka occasionally wore suits in the '80s. Both Reeves and Ditka had worked under the late Tom Landry.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] imadbasayev 9 years ago

ive said this from day one..he looked and sounded ridiculous as an ex football playing head coach

Jack@ss, where in the movie did it say he used to play as well?

[–] Silent_Bob01 8 years ago

There was a fade shot near the beginning of the film showing a B&W photo of a young Pacino wearing a helmet. I'm pretty sure they were implying he played the game, either college or pro.

The idea of a dude as tiny as Pacino playing football is hilarious.

[–] juviejay (456) 3 years ago

The idea of a dude as tiny as Pacino playing football is hilarious.

Ever heard of Barry Sanders?

[–] [email protected] (2030) 7 months ago

I don't recall that, do you have a pic or the time stamp for that?

[–] I_Guard_Tanelorn 9 years ago

Al Pacino is doing what Al Pacino does. I don't have a problem with that. That's what puts butts in seats. But my lord, the suits he's wearing are what makes it so off. No coaches dress like they just walked out of a nightclub. I wish they just put his ass in a proper attire.

"I said no camels, that's five camels, can't you count?"

[–] [email protected] (6010) 7 months ago

Forget the suit, forget the clothes. Pacino was perfect in the role.

As far as his size, the way he was photographed diminished the look of how big he was...or wasn't. Anyway, who else could have played the role and was as large as today's football players? Almost anyone would look diminutive next to Lawrence Taylor anyway.

Jamie Foxx is not nearly as tall as today's quarterbacks. They have to be tall to see over those hulking linebackers. But he was believable.