Sean Astin is a lovable fellow. His most famous role was that of Samwise Gamgee from Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Astin represents the every man. Short, stocky, and without the Hollywood leading man’s smolder, he projects life as we all know it.
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Image source: nbc.com
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This is probably why Astin was such a perfect fit to play Daniel Ruettiger in David Anspaugh’s 1993 football movie, “Rudy.” Astin brought the intense dignity of a boy with a dream, one life kept putting down, in a performance that kept everyone rooting for him.
Yes, I’m saying it -- “Rudy” is the most inspiring football movie ever made. And that doesn’t come lightly as there are many inspiring football flicks out there such as “Remember the Titans” and “The Replacements.” But the inspiration “Rudy” gives us is on a whole different level. We weren’t rooting for a team, or a community, or a city. In fact, we weren’t even cheering on Rudy himself. We were cheering for each one of us, every person who ever dared dream and had everyone tell us it was impossible.
Image source: time.com
Sure, it’s a classic tale, and quite cliché, but the down-to-earth direction, Astin’s appeal, and an extraordinary story elevate “Rudy” to the top of our football movies list easily.
Hi there! I’m Dayanna Volitich, a college freshman attending Fresno State University and studying English. I plan to become a sports writer someday. Learn more about me here.
