Rustin

Rustin is an incredibly touching film and a standout among indie films. Rick Johnson's direction is fluid and graceful as he tells the story of an athlete spinning out of control and the daughter he discovers. There is such compassion in the story -- not something you see a lot in indie films. I loved Ashley Johnson -- she's heartbreakingly real as the daughter and several of the supporting roles are sharply drawn. I look forward to more films by Rick Johnson.

How could you have a part in this movie? I saw this movie because it was filmed in some of the places I grew up in. I can't believe the amount of stereotyping went into this movie, and what makes it more sickening is that some of the actors claim to be natives of the area. Not only did I find some of these stereotypes much too exagerated and just unbelievable, the story itself wasn't anything new and to be absolutely honest, pretty boring. All the classic movie cliches were there, the hardened cop, the cocky football player, the coach that doesn't care about anything but football, basically all the movie characters that could never exist in real life. Why good talent like Meatloaf Aday and the girl from Growing Pains would even be in this movie boggles my mind. The music in it was almost descent, but then it got to a song written for the movie that sounded like it was from an after school special, definately not feature film quality. This movie hasn't found its way to a distributor yet, and for all of you throughout the country I hope that it isn't picked up.

Rustin the movie touched my heart in many different ways..Rick Johnson is charming as an actor ...he commands the screen with grace.I was most impressed with his direction of the film..Rick wields the camera like a maestro conducts an orchestra.In a day where most indie films are dark and edgy for no reason at all..taking hope away from people..I am thankful for Rick Johnson and the cast and crew of Rustin..for bringing real life issues with hope..Thank you Rick..Mary

This was the worst movie I've seen in YEARS! The trite plot that is an obvious copy/combo of "Varsity Blues" and any given Lifetime movie made me get up and leave the theater an hour and fifteen minutes into the movie. That was the first time I've left a movie in seven years. This movie isn't even worthy of straight-to-video. I could understand a deal with UPN, PAX, ABCFamily, or the aformentioned Lifetime. As a southerner I would like to tell the Chicago native who starred in and directed this movie that not all small southern towns treat there high school football coaches like gods. I'm so sick of seeing northern filmmakers stereotype southerners as revoltingly racist, sports-obsessed, ignorant trogs. As I write this invective "Rustin" has not been given a nation wide release and I hope that it never does.

I just got the DVD and I was blown away by the cast of Rustin. I saw some familiar places in the movie (since it was filmed in my hometown) and I believe even though it was over 100 degrees during filming in the dead of summer, everyone seemed to have fun being a part of it. Our town of 20,000 appreciates the work Rick Johnson, Meat Loaf, Ashley Johnson, and my favorite two fat buddies Rick Burgess and Bill "Bubba" Bussey, (aka Rick and Bubba) put into the film. Thank you Rick Johnson for putting high school football into perspective without going overboard like "Varsity Blues" did. I wholeheartedly suggest going out and buying this film for yourself.