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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 likeable figure and his short fused 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.
Boxer Bean is perhaps beginning to show his wear after Sharpe, Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones, but we believe his fittingly washed up athlete and prison rugged in Any Day. Besides, Our Man Sean has been known to enjoy a brew or two and get in a bar fight himself. Old friends and family are dead, former gyms can't associate with convicts – Vian's rehabilitated and hasn't had a drink while inside but that isn't good enough for the slim pickings post-recession jobs today. He got drunk and accidentally killed a man, but Vian isn't really a bad guy, right? He walks or takes the bus, and asks to borrow the car while striking out with the ladies and training from home. Vian insists no job is too small – washing cars, sweeping floors, folding pizza boxes – this brought low has made him a teenager all over again. He faces kid bullies, mockery, and icky customers but remains humble and ready to work, thus earning new respect. Vian says he doesn't believe in a higher power, won't take any literary hints, and doesn't listen to family until its too late. However, it's refreshing to have a movie that is simply about a man finding his way, learning to build fresh trust, and resisting alcohol temptations, and Bean does fine work with both Vian's breaking point and life's little pleasures. Despite hampering plot contrivances, we want to see him make amends and turn round right. Strangely, Any Day doesn't seem available on blu-ray, and the DVD rental is as bare bones as they come with information on the picture also tough to find. There's no wikipedia page, and neither Longoria's nor Walsh's pages list Any Day. If I wasn't a Bean fan, I probably wouldn't know about this movie at all. I didn't think a film could be so under the radar in 2015! Sure, Any Day is predictable and cliché with unnecessary scenes and a few odd film making choices. Audiences may not want to see a picture about normal living or find such difficulties too close to home. Some jaded viewers might confuse the internal spirituality and synchronicity for plot coincidence due to a thin script making the same mistake. This broad first draft tone almost leaves Any Day with a tacked on final act. Thankfully, fine performances showcasing realistic problems and daily struggles make up for the banal, and despite its flaws, Any Day is a nice little silver lining catharsis.
