David Anspaugh's (Hoosiers) popular sports film is based on a true story about a blue-collar kid named Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger (Sean Astin), whose father (Ned Beatty) worships Notre Dame football but never dared to dream that one of his sons might join the legendary university's Fighting Irish. But that's pint-sized Rudy's goal, and his ceaseless commitment will face a number of tremendous obstacles, ranging from daunting education requirements and money problems, to rejections and dismissive coaches, all of which lead to endless delays. Astin delivers a moving portrayal of a boy who becomes a man during the process, watching his world change—often in unexpected ways—as a result of his unwavering determination. Beatty is touching as the father whose own dreams were vanquished long ago, and now feels threatened by his son's. The strong supporting cast includes Lili Taylor as a hometown girl, and Robert Prosky and Charles S. Dutton as two valuable mentors. Presented with a decent transfer on Blu-ray, extras include interviews with the real Rudy and Astin, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette. Recommended. (T. Keogh)
Rudy
Sony, 114 min., PG, Blu-ray: $28.95 Volume 23, Issue 6
Rudy
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