Costner plays for sporting chance in 'Draft Day'

(MENAFN- Arab News) Los angeles: a resurgent kevin costner makes another play for big-screen success in his latest movie 'draft day" returning to the sports genre he has scored big hits with in the past

The film is the third in four months — after 'jack ryan: shadow recruit" and '3 days to kill" — by the 59-year-old actor whose career has known some low moments since 1990's oscar-winning 'dances with wolves.

Directed by ivan reitman ('ghostbusters" 'no strings attached') it recounts the day of the draft the annual high-stakes high-profile event when major national football league (nfl) clubs bid for players from college team ranks

Costner's character sonny is general manager of the cleveland browns facing decisive choices for his club while also in demand with his girlfriend ali (jennifer garner) and mother barb (ellen burstyn)

'i loved the idea of a character who is under pressure from the moment a story begins and the pressure just keeps mounting" reitman told a beverly hills press conference ahead of the movie's us release this friday

'and it's not only the business pressure but all kind of other personal things on a very complicated day keep affecting how he's thinking.

Costner known for playing the everyman type appears comfortable with a character dealing with multiple challenges at the same time sometimes forced to be ruthless but in the end victorious

And while his recent films haven't triumphed at the box office 'draft day" could score a hit to rival costner's baseball 'trilogy" — 'bull durham" (1988) 'field of dreams" (1989) and 'for love of the game" (1999)

For costner there is a secret to making a good film in the sporting genre

'i think if you want to make a good sports movie you've got to cut down on the sports. you have to make it about people. you can't try to impress people with your knowledge... and all the details and the technicalities" he said

'yes there's this backdrop of the nfl. he wants to tell his mom that they're going to have a baby. there's a lot going on in the movie.