Kevin Costner returns to familiar territory in Draft Day, a sports drama that entertainingly dramatizes the tight rope, wheeling and dealing thrills that play out during one of America’s biggest sports events.

An interesting evolution has transpired in American sports, with fans now more excited by offseason acquisitions and transactions than actual sports play. Hollywood has followed suit, recreating the American sports movie that now focuses on the players behind the scenes rather than those on the field.

Moneyball did just that back in 2011, becoming one of the baseball movies while showing very little of America’s favourite past-time. Now comes Draft Day, a film that doesn’t reach the heights of Moneyball or Jerry Maguire before it, yet under the steady direction of Ivan Reitman and with a strong Kevin Costner in the lead, it is a very solid addition to the American sports movie cannon.

Set within the National Football League (as in gridiron, not soccer) Draft Day stars Costner as Sonny Weaver Jr., general manager of the embattled Cleveland Browns who - with the number one draft pick in his possession - is on the clock to make the biggest decision of his career. While doing so he has to contend with his overbearing boss (Frank Langella), his prima donna coach (Dennis Leary) and a complicated relationship with the teams lawyer (Jennifer Garner).

Costner is perfectly suited to the role of Sonny Weaver Jr.. Men of conviction is the shock in trade in Costner’s repertoire, and it’s both engrossing and entertaining to watch Costner duck and weave through the varied obstacles thrown his characters way, all the while keeping his eye on the prize and head off the chopping block.

While based in the sports arena, a healthy interest in sports business and sports politics is not needed to appreciate the dramatics that Draft Day exudes. Screenwriters Rajiv Jospeh and Scott Rothman frame their story around the stakes placed upon million dollar decisions that one man must make. Reitman does a great job in capturing the fall out, with egos bruised, dreams both realised and crushed, and reputations forged.

What doesn’t work as well is the romance between Costner and Garner, an addition that no doubt was supposed to add softness to the machismo mind games, yet proves instead to be an unnecessary distraction.

Behind the scenes jostling between sports teams has enough dramatic juice to wet plenty of whistles, and Draft Day does a great job in bringing that energy and weight to the big screen.