'Rudy'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kyle Brandt as they dust off their Notre Dame jackets to chase their dreams after rewatching the 1993 sports classic 'Rudy,' starring Sean Astin, Ned Beatty, and Charles S. Dutton.
Cast
Sean Astin as Rudy Ruettiger
Ned Beatty as Daniel Ruettiger
Charles S. Dutton as Fortune
Jon Favreau as D-Bob
Vince Vaughn as Jamie O'Hare
Chelcie Ross as Coach Dan Devine
Lili Taylor as Sherry
Robert Prosky as Father Cavanaugh
Jason Miller as Coach Ara Parseghian
Christopher Reed as Pete
Scott Benjaminson as Frank Ruettiger
Ron Dean as Assistant Coach
Directed by: David Anspaugh
Written by: Angelo Pizzo
Music by: Jerry Goldsmith
Notes
- $13 million budget, $22 million box office. Did not do well theatrically but became a pantheon sports movie through cable and Blockbuster by 1996-97.
- Bill describes 'Rudy' as 'the most annoying, needy, pushiest emotional stalker you've ever rooted for.' Kyle calls it 'the most polarizing sports movie of all time.'
- Bill says it's 'basically 2 movies' – the first 64 minutes are slow and full of unintentional comedy, then it becomes 'one of the best sports movies of all time.'
- The real-life sack was likely offsides, was a half-sack (shared with another defensive end), and the running back whiffed on the block. Joe Montana said the carry-off was done as a joke by the two biggest pranksters on the team, not a sincere tribute.
- The tryout score by Jerry Goldsmith has been used in at least 12 other movie trailers. Goldsmith did NOT get an Oscar nomination for this score – Bill and Kyle considered this a travesty.
- NFL Films did all the football scenes. The carry-off scene was filmed at the real Notre Dame-BC game using the actual crowd.
- Same writer/director duo as 'Hoosiers': David Anspaugh and Angelo Pizzo.
- Casting director Sharon Bailey's first choice was Matt Damon (pre-fame), but he was too tall. She implied Damon blew away Astin in the audition.
- Amazon has a version with deleted scenes (~18 minutes longer) including more Vince Vaughn scenes.
Categories
Quote from Rog's review:
“Astin's performance is so self-effacing, so focused and low key that we lose sight of the underdog formula and begin to focus on the dogged kid who won't quit.”
Ebert gave it 3.5 stars. Siskel said he liked 'Rudy' better than 'Hoosiers'.
- Bill: The jerseys dropping on Coach Devine's desk – Roland Steele and the left tackle offering their spots. 'If you don't get touched by that scene, you don't have a heart.'
- Kyle: The entire ending sequence from when Roland Steele grabs 'Rudy' by the facemask. Cries mostly because of Ned Beatty's and Dutton's reactions.
- Honorable mentions: Pete's death at the steel mill, 'Rudy' seeing Notre Dame's field for the first time, Fortune's motivational speech ('5 foot nothing, 100 and nothing'), the tryouts montage.
- The Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack / tryout score being used in 12+ movie trailers.
- Sean Astin's athleticism – he looks legitimately good sprinting and in the football scenes.
- The Jamie O'Hare persona of the heavily recruited disappointment.
- Coach Dan Devine's 'nobody comes into our house' speech becoming an NBA/NHL jumbotron staple.
- Chelcie Ross as the sports movie 'that guy' GOAT (Eddie Harris in 'Major League', George in 'Hoosiers', Dan Devine in 'Rudy').
- Vince Vaughn's presence becoming increasingly fun as his career grew.
- The D-Bob/'Rudy' pimp montage – 'Rudy' recruiting girls for D-Bob while wearing the same smelly jacket for 3 years.
- All the factual liberties: jerseys scene never happened, Fortune is an amalgam, the halfback pass never happened, Dan Devine was actually supportive of 'Rudy' playing.
- The Knute Rockne speech ('it's 300 years old').
- The real-life Rudy's post-movie life: annoying motivational speaker, charged with securities fraud in a 2011 pump-and-dump scheme, one-man stage show, tried to sell chicken.
- Bill: 'Rudy' in the corner of the football stadium with the camera behind him, soaking it in.
- Kyle: The crane shot going over the stadium while 'Rudy' tries to get tickets – a real Notre Dame touchdown was scored during filming.
When the final game starts and they kick the Goldsmith music into high gear.
The real-life Rudy's post-movie life – became an annoying motivational speaker whose speeches were about getting the movie made, was charged with securities fraud, did a documentary about himself. Bill says he 'makes Michael Ruzione look shy.'
- Kyle: Rudy's asshole brother Frank was right about everything. 'Rudy' had 'an incredible wife, a home, a job with union protection.' He drained family savings for 5 seconds of garbage-time football.
- Bill: Since they're making everything up anyway, they should have gone further – have 'Rudy' meet freshman Joe Montana and give him a tip that paves the way for his career.
Casting director Sharon Bailey's first choice was Matt Damon (pre-fame, around 'School Ties' era). She pitched him hard but they said he was too tall.
Ned Beatty when he breaks up the Pete/Frank bar fight – 'he really dials it up for like 5 seconds.'
- Bill: Christopher Reed as Pete or Scott Benjaminson as Frank – 'I don't know if I've seen either of them again.'
- Kyle picks Frank (Scott Benjaminson) – loves the line 'I used to collect baseball cards too.'
Bill: Vincent Vaughn – 'two scenes and they're completely different, and it's Vince Vaughn.'
Wil Wheaton as brother Frank (reuniting with Sean Astin from 'Toy Soldiers').
- Sean Astin: Yes – this is his signature role. Kyle: 'if he were to pass away, 'Rudy' is the first thing mentioned.'
- Notre Dame: Yes, for the modern era.
- Charles S. Dutton: Yes.
- Chelcie Ross: Strong contender between 'Major League', 'Hoosiers', and 'Rudy'.
- Vincent Vaughn: Yes, for being 'Vincent Vaughn' in a movie (his first credit).
- Ron Dean: Yes – this plus 'The Fugitive' in the same year.
Both agree Cruise. Kyle: 'Risky Business Cruise as Joel... I think he could pull that off' with Rudy's fresh-faced innocence. Hanks would work as one of the Notre Dame coaches.
Kyle: Charles S. Dutton's triple clap with gloves at the end – 'you see that all the time on social media.'
- 'Rudy' leaves Pete's funeral early.
- Jamie O'Hare tiptoeing before getting crunched by 'Rudy' in the sack scene.
- Running a halfback pass in a blowout to get 'Rudy' back on the field – everyone involved would be suspended.
- Vince Vaughn as a 6'5" tailback is preposterous – should have been cast as a wide receiver or tight end.
- The dad and brother's reaction to the sack is way too muted.
- A black comedy about real-life 'Rudy' post-movie, Rupert Pupkin/King of Comedy style.
- Kyle wants a prequel going back to the steel mill and the Rudigers, especially exploring the brother moving in on Rudy's girlfriend.
Both agree: Jerry Goldsmith for the score.
- Was 'Rudy' guilty of manslaughter for Pete's death at the steel mill?
- Why didn't 'Rudy' try harder in high school?
- More annoying costar for Jason Miller: Regan from 'The Exorcist' or 'Rudy'?
- Kyle: Fortune's corduroy jacket with scarf and hat from the final scene – 'he looks like he's on the cover of 1975 GQ.'
- Other options: Rudy's Notre Dame jacket, a Jamie O'Hare or Roland Steele jersey.
'Having dreams is what makes life tolerable' (Pete's quote).
Kyle: 'Hoosiers' (double Jerry Goldsmith, basketball + football).
- Both agree: Jerry Goldsmith. Bill argues the tryout song is probably #1 on Goldsmith's Wikipedia page.
- Kyle also nominates the University of Notre Dame – 'two hours of Notre Dame pornography.'