Plot: What’s it about?
Rudy is one of those movies that, all clichs aside was destined to be a classic. Its quite literally the story of one Daniel Ruettiger, someone who had the heart of a lion but the body of someone not meant to play football. I vividly remember when the movie came out in theaters in 1993 and saw it and loved it then and throughout the years its become what it was supposed to be: a classic. Like Its a Wonderful Life is to Christmas and Rocky is to boxing, Rudy is so synonymous with drive, determination and iron will that its hard not to get emotionally involved on some level. As we look back, one thing is sure to catch a few folks eyes: the cast. Sean Astin was cast in the lead role and he wasnt exactly the household name he is now (credit that to this movie and the Lord of the Rings trilogy), but we also see some names like Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn (their first on-screen pairing together), who would go on to make Swingers and later Made. That aside though, the movie is about football and go a bit deeper, the triumph of the human spirit.
Rudy (Sean Astin) has never wanted to be anything more than to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The trouble is that hes not exactly built like a football player. Hes graduated from high school and keeps trying, unsuccessfully, to get into the prestigious university only to no avail. However, he meets Father Cavanaugh (Robert Prosky), who takes him under his wing and gives him the proper guidance to help him get into Notre Dame. Also helping out Rudy is D-Bob (Jon Favereau), a cocky grad student who graduated from Notre Dame and just wants help getting a date. The trouble for Rudy is that hes not that gifted in the classroom, either. In addition to trying to make it into Notre Dame (he eventually does, of course) he also has aspirations of playing for the football team; something that will most likely never happen. Naturally I dont want to give away the ending for the few folks who havent seen this movie but the words inspirational arent thrown around for any reason at all. Suffice it to say that Rudy is one of those movies youll watch over and over again.
Like some movies that are flashes in the pan, Rudy stands apart. Its well made, acted and directed and best of all, its a true story. Yes, they really cant make stuff like this up. There was a movie a few years back also based on a true story called Invincible that was good in its own right but it just cant compare to this jewel. Anyone who doubts what one person is capable of need only to pop this Blu-ray into their player and let the movie take hold. Like Singin in the Rain is to musicals, Rudy is to sports movies. I think Ive given this movie enough accolades for the time being but credit Sonys marketing department for their placement of this film. Highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
Rudy is presented in the original 1.85:1 transfer and this HD AVC presentation looks pretty good. The film is now fifteen years old and the visual presentation has held up well since its initial release on DVD some ten years ago. The palette used isnt the most colorful out there; a majority of the film takes place outside in the somewhat dreary winter of Terre Haute, IN. This gives the movie a very de-saturated look to it but detail is sharp and flesh tones seem warm and natural. Theres a sequence where Rudy is going through tryouts that struck me as looking very nice. I wasnt really expecting a whole lot from this transfer and frankly Id have watched it on VHS just to see it (thats how much I love this movie), so this Blu-ray transfer does the movie justice.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is a few notches above and beyond the old audio mix and though not really a movie made for sound, Rudy does pack a punch or two during the course of the film. Dialogue and vocals sound strong without the slightest hint of distortion and a majority of the movie is driven by Jerry Goldsmiths wonderful soundtrack. Like the movie, what Rudy lacks in audio depth, it more than makes up for in story. Viewers wont be disappointed.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Sadly, we don’t get a lot of supplements and it’s a shame since there could be so many (namely a commentary track). We get the obligatory production featurette as well as “First Down with Sean Astin” who tells us a few things we don’t know and is mildly entertaining. The most worthwhile supplement is “Rudy: The real story” which gives us some insight into the “real” Rudy and some more background than the actual film itself.
