Any Day

"Any Day" (2015 release; 101 min.) brings the story of Vian (played by Sean Bean). As the movie opens and the opening credits roll, we see him at a party, drunk and getting into an argument with another guy. Vian, a professional boxer we later learn, ends up pummeling the guy to death (literally)and Vian is imprisoned. After the opening credits, we are informed that we are "Twelve Years Later" and Vian is released from jail. Not knowing where to go, he is turned away from his former boxing club and in desperation goes to his sister Bethley (played by Kate Walsh). She very reluctantly agrees to let him stay for two weeks at her house, as long as Vian doesn't booze. It's not long before we see Vian in the grocery store and getting to know Jolene (played by Eva Longoria), and he asks for her phone number right then and there. Along the way, Vian is also desperately looking for a job and catches a break when he gets a cooking job at a pizzeria managed by Roland (played by Tom Arnold). To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: this movie is written and directed by Rustam Branaman, best known for his acting work in front of the camera. I can see the good intentions of this movie: tough guy with a good heart is re-entering society and really wants to do right this time around. Unfortunately, the scrip is incredibly weak and utterly predictable. There is no tension to speak of in the movie. Worse, the scenes where the emotions get high, are utterly unbelievable. As I was watching this, I felt sorry for the wasted talents of Eva Longoria. She looks utterly and completely lost in this movie. How did she end up in this mess? I admit I struggled to make it through the end of the movie but I somehow did. You don't have to suffer the same fate...

I saw this movie recently at the Silverspot Theater in Naples, FL, where a bunch of movies from the 2015 Palm Beach International Film Festival were featured. I had never heard of "Any Day" and literally took a chance on this, simply on the fact that Longoria is in this. I shouldn't have, and in all honesty, I cannot recommend this movie to anyone. Viewer beware!

Sean Bean- I have to give credit as he is a sensational actor, and he was in this film too. He performed fantastically in his role, but it wasn't enough to make this anything other than a really crappy let-down of a film. And here we learn the importance of a good screenplay........

Three well known actors (and only one of them 'good' as far as I'm concerned) make up the leading roles in this movie but I'm worried that it only served to illustrate that they were only good in the roles they were most known for and have little else to offer? I'd hate for that to be true......... (I'm STILL not ready for Ned Stark to be dead.... I can't let it go..... :) :) :) ) I watched this movie while working on an art project but would never have been able to suffer through the entire thing if I wasn't otherwise occupied. Nothing redeemable about the film at all.

Don't bother....... just be sad with the rest of us that Ned Stark is gone........ no matter what Sean Bean appears in, it's never going to make that suck less. :)

After watching the first hour I knew I had to watch the rest because I needed to leave a review on IMDB. As my title states, I cannot believe that the fine actors in this movie agreed to do it (Bean, Longoria, the kids mom). Every scene seemed like it was the directors first movie. It seemed like a movie I would make if you made me make a movie right now (I have no background in film making). The dialogue was so basic. Sean Bean's character just keeps asking Longoria's for her number. "Can I have your number? . . Give me your number. . " over and over lol. Sean Bean from 12 years ago in the movie looks exactly like Sean Bean in the present. No make up used to seem like they tried. He was supposed to be younger and immature when he went to jail but he looked 58 going in and 58 coming out. It was a religious themed movie so maybe that is why the actors did it. I will say the last 30 minutes I was into it. I've seen these actors perform decently in other things so chalk it up to the script and the directing. It's almost worth the watch to laugh a bit.

An amiable and well filmed drama that shares all the common qualities of an above average TV movie, Any Day is a perfectly enjoyable movie that is elevated by the presence of well-known face Sean Bean, who saves Any Day from becoming a cringe worthy tale in its questionable third act.

With a faith tinged core and a focus on finding ones purpose in life, director Rustam Branaman treads a well-worn path of redemption in this story of boxer turned prison inmate Vian and his eventual journey back into every day normal life, but he tells it in a way that keeps things ticking along even if the pace at times grinds to a halt thanks to extremely over the top scenes. Vian also isn't what you'd call a completely likable figure and his short fussed temper shows up a man that is inwardly tormented but there's enough humanity to make him a man we want the best for, helped by Bean's solid work.

For fans of Bean's career I can say he thankfully survives this ordeal so Any Day won't be showing up on Bean's death list any time soon and it's another turn that shows us all his an actor that can disappear into any role. His by far the standout performer here and shares some nice moments with the near unrecognisable Tom Arnold but the rest of the cast struggle to make much of a mark with the slumming it Eva Longoria barely registering and Kate Walsh struggling with some of the films more weighty moments.

Any Day feels quite familiar yet there's enough here to give it its own personality and some nice surprises keep you on your toes even though the films last 15 – 20 minutes are horribly misjudged. For fans of Sean Bean in particular, this is a low key drama that's well worth a watch and much more enjoyable than many of its far more well-known counterparts.

2 and a half dropped pizzas out of 5

Lead actor Sean Bean was about 55 when this film was made. He would not have been a boxer just prior to jail 12 years ago. How many white 43 year old boxers are there in L.A.? Why did they pick a 55 year old British Guy to play an American former boxer, who still has boxing in his life? Why not choose an American actor 43, who was 31 before jail? Having said that, yes of course Bean did an admirable job with his role.

I think they gave both him and his sister European names, to partially explain away his seemingly non-American quality.

Well, the reviews were pretty brutal on this one, and I understand why, but it had plenty going for it too. I have no idea what part of L.A. they used, but they managed to find a white working class area not far from open space. Where is that? White working class stories have not taken place in an L.A. setting since Karate Kid. Anyways, good photography and atmosphere.

The Indie music was moody and memorable. Looks like the main singer was born in Germany but sings Americana folk. That was refreshing.

At first I thought the kid was the worst actor on the planet, but then I sort of got why he played such a robotic innocent. He was the counter to his uncle's jaded soul. I do totally see why the kid would run into trouble and tragedy, because he had no father and was not taught to keep his guard up. He went about his day in innocence and stuff happened. Later we are to consider that a virtue.

My favorite part of the movie by far was the interaction between Tom Arnold's character and our lead. I totally believed that. There are many guys like Arnold's character. I mean average Joes who screw up a lot, never fully grew up, but have some genuine goodness in them. They usually find kindred spirits to hang out with.

Would someone like Eva Longoria's character let a guy 16 years her senior pick her up in a supermarket parking lot after desperately asking for her phone number multiple times? I know that everyone says no, but I say yes. She saw that he was family-oriented, playing with his nephew, and that he had a shyness mixed with machismo. Women go for that.

There is no mention of Jesus. But the writers slipped in some super awkward religious messages toward the end while purposely not fully explaining. I think the message was that redemption requires effort, resolve, and faith. Most of our lead's cohorts stuck by him, despite his multiple screw-ups. Ultimately, even his abusive dead father redeems things.

The story runs super slow, so be prepared for that. Bean's non-American style and awkward age that does not fit the role, will make you squirm. Throw in the even more awkward spiritual ambiguity, and I'll give you credit if you don't hate it. I did not. I actually liked it.