Sorry for the lack of updates... crazy week at work. Will drop two here, and try to hammer out a few more so I'm not doing this on the fly.
#15 – Rudy (1993)There are 2 movies where it is perfectly acceptable for a man to cry. The true story of Daniel Ruettiger is one of them. Long before he was Samwise Gamgee, Sean Astin was “Rudy” - a kid who grew up as the son of a steel-mill foreman (Ned Beatty) in a blue-collar town; who always dreamed to play football for Notre Dame. And after the death of his childhood friend, he was determined... no committed to make it happen. Entered college in his 20s, and as is said later in the film by Charles S. Dutton “Your five foot nothin', a hundred and nothin' and hardly have a spec of athletic ability”. And he wasn’t the brightest kid either. But, he got people to believe in him the way he believed in himself. And that’s the real story here... belief in yourself, and if you put forth the effort – day in and day out – others will do for you as well. This is a story of overcoming monumental odds, doing the seemingly impossible, and achieving exactly what you’re aiming for.
Spoilers:
The tears start building when every single player gives up their jersey for Rudy, then he leads them out on the field, and the closing scenes, when the whole stadium is chanting his name, and he gets the sack and is carried off the field.... you can’t help but be on top of the world yourself – for Rudy.
Memorable quote – “Are you ready for this?” “I’ve been ready my whole life”
Memorable scene -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27D4k3dCXPg #14 – Dead Poet’s Society (1989)I saw this movie in the theatres back in ’89, and cried in the theatre. At first I was like “why the fuck is Mork in a dramatic role?” But man, this established Robin Williams as more than a comedic genius. He’s an acting genius. I’m sure everyone here knows this movie, as it’s the source of a lot of the inspiration for A Change of Seasons – “Carpe Diem” comes from this movie, along with the sample at 8:10.
The movie is about a group of boys attending prep school in 1959, and the professors are all dryer than a popcorn fart. However, one professor – Michael Keating (Robin Williams) – stood above all others. Through poetry, Keating ushered these 17 year old boys into manhood, teaching them REAL life lessons valid in any era. He inspired passion, desire, drive, free thinking ... when the boys had never been given the right by the school or their parents to have any of those. Yet unfortunately, the school and their parents were unprepared to follow them for the ride, and ultimately, there are tragic consequences when they try to snap the boys back to their ‘place’ in life. The over-bearing and crotchety school administration refuses to allow the boys to blossom, forcing them into a mould of what they believe is best. The final scene will always bring a tear to my eye, demonstrating that one man can have a monumental impact on one’s life.
Every teenager here at DTF needs to see this movie if they haven’t already.
Memorable quote – “For the first time in my life, I know what I want to do; and for the first time, I’M GONNA DO IT!!”
Memorable scene -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8co7G1Ud3os (skip to 2:20 for the truly memorable part).