My All American

I was in Fort Smith, Arkansas when President Nixon flew up to Fayetteville for the game. I was one of the Boy Scouts who held the rope for him on his way to Marine One.

I was worried about this film being worth a darn. My father is depicted by Aaron Eckhart. Well, it turned out much better than I ever could have asked for. I've seen people try to make a movie out of this story for decades, so I was surprised that it got finished... and released!

Well, you may not cry out loud, guys. But I guarantee you will get chills and a lump in your throat.

Sure, it's got a lot of football, but GIRLS, you will love this character played by Finn Wittrock. Then you will cry.

You are at the cinema-plex. You aren't sure what to see.... PICK THIS ONE.

The Freddie Steinmark Story adapted into a movie. Freddie seems like a underdog as his body does not measure up to his heart, but Freddie proves that sometimes heart is all you need, and when the world tossed him a bad pass, he still stood up tall. It is the type of movie that makes you wish you had someone like Freddie Steinmark on your team. It was beautifully done.

Aaron Eckhart was great as the head coach leading his team to victory, but the actor they got to play Freddie was perfect in capturing what an amazing guy he was. The whole movie just inspires you like a good sports movie should. It's like Rudy for a new generation.

And the football was great too. I seen the gridiron thing done in many movies. Nothing out of the ordinary is going on here, but the sound effects accompanying the visuals definitely makes you feel the hit from every play.

A fair warning, this is the type of movie that makes grown men get all misty eyed. My All American is about the type of heroes America loves, who against all odds, raised to the occasion to produced victory, and made so much of himself in so little time that people are still talking about it.

"We would not have been national champions if you had not been on that field." Freddie Steinmark (Wittrock) is a tremendous football player, but was always told he was too small to play for a major college. When Texas coach Darrell Royal (Eckhart) recruits him, Freddie works harder than anyone on the team and finally earns a starting job. In the midst of a run at the National Championship season Freddie's knee begins to bother him. When he sees the doctor his life, and the legacy of Texas football is changed forever. I am a huge fan of sports movies, especially ones that are true. This one took awhile for me to get invested in, but when I did I really got into it. This is not one of the best sports movies I have ever seen, but it is very much worth seeing and I do highly recommend it. The movie has great sports scenes as well as a very emotional arc that can only be true, this isn't something you can make up. Sports movie fans will really like this, and this is actually a decent family movie. It is rated PG, but some of the subject matter may need to be explained. Overall, a very good movie that I recommend. Not one of the best sports movies ever made, but a very good addition to the genre. I give this a high B.

The is based upon a true story

University of Texas Coach Darrell Royal (Aaron Eckhart) tells the story of one of the best football players he ever had: Freddie Steinmark (Finn Wittrock). A reporter asks Coach Royal of all the All Americans he coached which one had the greatest impact on him. Coach Royal replies, " Freddie. Freddie Steinmark." The reporter states that Freddie Steinmark was never an All American. To which Coach Royal replies, "No, but he was MY ALL American."

The first 3-quarters of this movie will remind you when you were in High School or early years of college as we follow Freddie Steinmark in his football days. It is delightful, funny, faith-based and honest. When Freddie meets Linda (Sarah Bolger) - the love of his life - in HS, we are off to the races.

We see that Freddie Steinmark is truly an exceptional football player, who played Safety later on for Coach Royal. This movie shows us more football practices than we see from other football movies, and those action scenes are somewhat brutal too. (it's only a movie, Bob) When we see the actual games the hitting doesn't let up and we think about checking into the ER just to be safe. (still a movie)

Aaron Eckhart probably plays the best role of his life as Coach Royal. Kudos. Newcomer Finn Wittrock as Freddie is a breath of fresh air and you wished you knew Freddie and further you wished everyone else was like him. He is the perfect friend as well as a better than exceptional football player.

The last quarter of this movie is sad - extremely so - and you may need that Kleenex box. Everything caught me by surprise as I had never heard of Freddie Steinmark. Football movies come and go and we rarely or barely remember what they were about (except maybe for WE ARE MARSHALL) but this movie is much different as I don't think I will ever forget Freddie Steinmark or Coach Royal, who saw things in Freddie no one else saw. I am glad this movie was made so we know what an exceptional Human Being Freddie Steinmark was.

Go to Wikipedia to learn more about Freddie Steinmark and Coach Darrell Royal. (9/10)

Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: No.