Any Day

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

The cast is quite good - Sean Bean alone has the gravitas and the charisma to carry the whole thing. Having said that, the script lets him and the others down quite a bit. It is not just the cliches it serves and the predictability. It is the dialog and the situations too. But the actors make it almost work entirely, even if some situations seem and feel quite contrived to say the least.

Also the boy may not be the best choice. Now I'm not trying to put him down, but it felt like he was missing a few things to convey anything he was supposed to feel - or we were to detect him feeling. That may sound mean I guess, but he has pivotal role and I reckon some may feel even stronger about him than I do. Convenience aside this is decent overall I'd say

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.

Fighting Demons starts out interestingly enough but quickly treads a well worn path and soon goes into heavy handedness and banality.

Sean Bean is Vian a former boxer released from 12 years in jail for beating a man to death. On his release, he is unwanted in his old boxing gym and his single mom sister reluctantly allows him to stay with her young son with the proviso that he does not drink and stays out of trouble.

Vian tries to pull his life back together as an ex-con, he gets a job in a diner, he gets on well with his boss (Tom Arnold) and even gets a girlfriend (Eva Longoria) who seems to be stalked by a rival suitor which the film never delves in.

Things seem to be going well, Vian get tempted to drink every now and then but he resists however his nephew is involved in an accident which causes distress, he falls out with his boss because Vian does want him to date his sister for no reason at all and his girlfriend finds out that he has done time.

The film also has some Christian spiritual undertones in the movie and it all dissipates with a weak finish about trying to find redemption for his crime.

As a minor low key film it is well acted although Sean Bean is clearly too old for his character.

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. :)