This is probably my favorite movie regarding football ever, even though it's not really a football movie.

"Rudy" is about true life title character Rudy Ruettiger, who was a walk on senior for Norte Dame Fighting Irish college football. The picture shows his life from a lower middle income home where he and his siblings are meant to get married and work the rest of their lives, not go to college.

Ruettiger however keeps his dream to attend NDU and play for the Irish so close, that when his best friend is killed in an accident at work, he hits the road to fullfill it.

Rudy attends the neighboring college, hoping to fight off his learning disabilities and get grades high enough to get accepted and transfer to Norte Dame his junior year. Eventually he does. Then, he must try out for the Irish. He does, and given he's such a small guy, he gets the shit kicked out of him. His determination however gets him on the practice squad until the last game of his senior year when he's finally allowed to suit up with his parents watching from the stands.

The climax of the picture is the moment Rudy gets to take the field on defense, since the Irish are so far ahead and in no danger of losing, a stadium of students chanting his name. On the last play of the game, he sacked the quarterback of the opposing team and is carried of the field by his teammates and students who have rushed the field. The moment is tear jearking.

The DVD has a great special feature with the actual Rudy Ruettiger telling his story and where the film diverted for dramatic interpretation. Come to find out, the film is very close to acurate. Ruettiger himself begins crying on camera just talking about the final play of that game.

I have never encounted such a heart felt movie about football, but actually, the movie is about one young man's fight against his own physical and mental limitations and his living environment telling him he'' never amount to anything, especially a college graduate.

Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings trilogy) plays Rudy perfectly, while Ned Beatty (Network, Life) is solid as the patriarc of his large catholic family. John Favreau also appears as the teacher's aide who helps Rudy overcome his learning disabilities, in exchange for teaching him how to talk to girls.

When someone asks me to list my favorite sports oriented movies, "Rudy" may be at the top of the list. It is truly an inspiring story of sticking to one's dreams and doing whatever it takes to achieve them. This DVD disc is a must own.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?