Leatherheads (2008)

Directed by George Clooney. Starring George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski, Stephen Root, Jonathan Pryce, Wayne Duvall, Peter Gerety, Jack Thompson, Robert Baker, Keith Loneker, Malcolm Goodwin, Grant Heslov, Patt Noday, Matt Bushell, Tim Griffin. [PG-13]

At a time when pro football was an industry of little nationwide interest, aging veteran player Clooney signs a college star and Sergeant Alvin York-style war hero (Krasinski) to generate headlines and a larger, more enthusiastic fanbase. Meanwhile, Zellweger’s newspaper reporter is assigned to dig up dirt on the shining star after his war record is called into question, leading to a romance developing with Krasinski alongside sparks flying between her and Clooney. Blatant attempt to recreate the fast, snappy banter of 1930s screwballs, the stylized and even self-conscious delivery system and production details make it feel like “Coens-lite”—no surprise, since Clooney as a filmmaker was heavily influenced by his work with the Coen brothers on multiple films. Aside from some mild foul language, it favors an old-fashioned brand of politeness that cracks the whip on wit while belaboring the contrived plot machinations that take on varying levels of sincerity and severity as it rolls along. Never takes off the way it should, and, coming across as artificial sometimes, the sharpness of the writing (credited to Duncan Brantley and Rick Reilly, although Clooney’s rewrites were substantial) isn’t as consistent as the true-blue best from yesteryear. Saved in part by solid chemistry and an abundance of arch, screwy humor generating light chuckles. Clooney and frequent-collaborator Grant Heslov (also appearing in a small role) co-produced with several others, including Sydney Pollack.

57/100