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If anyone knows how to craft an unabashedly corny underdog sports drama, it’s Angelo Pizzo. The writer of Rudy and Hoosiers takes his first turn behind the camera with the true story of Freddie Steinmark (Finn Wittrock), an undersized but relentless young football player who became a star safety for the University of Texas in the late 1960s, before facing a life-threatening health crisis. Wittrock faces a tough challenge for an actor—making a squeaky-clean, says-his-prayers-and-puts-in-the-work kid interesting—but he provides exactly the kind of earnestness required for a story about someone who inspired others around him, and could respond to a potentially lethal diagnosis with a tight-jawed, “Okay.” And yes, it’s often formulaic in its relationship dynamics—between Freddie and his stalwart girlfriend (Sarah Bolger), and between Freddie and Texas coach Darrell Royal (Aaron Eckhart)—while making the occasional misstep like spending 17 minutes on a single (albeit legendary) football game. But My All American really has only one goal: putting a lump in your throat at watching a kid refuse to stop believing that every one of his dreams could come true. Lump delivered.
Official Site: www.myallamerican.com/all
Director: Angelo Pizzo
Producer: Paul Schiff, Ben "Bud" Brigham, Rusty Walter, Paula Walter, Tony Jones, Carl Mazzocone and Michael Beugg
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Finn Wittrock, Robin Tunney, Sarah Bolger, Michael Burke, Rett Terrell and Juston Street
Director: Angelo Pizzo
Producer: Paul Schiff, Ben "Bud" Brigham, Rusty Walter, Paula Walter, Tony Jones, Carl Mazzocone and Michael Beugg
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Finn Wittrock, Robin Tunney, Sarah Bolger, Michael Burke, Rett Terrell and Juston Street
