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Rudy
What key life events and individuals played a part in Rudy’s determination, goal setting, and goal achievement and how did these key events and individuals influence him?
(1) The priest at Holy Cross understood his passion, offered advice and encouragement to Rudy.
(2) The Notre Dame coach, Ara Parseghian, accepted Rudy to be a squirt play on a practice team
(3) A groundskeeper offered Rudy to sleep on a cot in the groundskeeper's room because he doesn't have money for rent.
(4) “Well you know what my dad always said; having dreams is what makes life tolerable.” This was said by Pete to inspire Rudy to follow his dreams.
(5) a mill accident involving his close friend spurs him to take another look at what’s most important to him in life. He decides to ignore the limits others have placed on him and to put everything he has into chasing his dream
(6) In this movie there are many inspiring characters. Pete, one of Rudy’s best friends was one of the most influential people in his life. He was the only person from his past that motivated him. Later in Rudy’s life more encouraging people came around. In the movie Pete ends up part of a tragedy that will affect Rudy and his life goals forever. Pete helped change Rudy by always encouraging him to stick to his goals. When Pete was no longer around Rudy, he decided it was time to do what he said and fulfill his dreams.

Another example of theme in Rudy is the conflicts that the football player creates and the adventure. Some people in Rudy’s family didn’t think he would ever make the team let alone get into the school. They didn’t think he could make it out there alone. Along Rudy’s journey D-BOB, Pete, and Fortune were the people along the way who supported him the most. Mr. Ruettiger, Rudy’s dad, and his sons didn’t believe that he would ever make the team or ever play in a game. Through all of this, Rudy just listened to the positive people and kept on working at his dream with all of his heart.

For the finale of Rudy, the resolution of the film demonstrates the lesson of always following your dreams. Rudy worked really hard with his Dyslexia and grades to get into Notre Dame so that he would be eligible for the football team. He learned that when you are persistent you can overcome just about anything. Rudy made it onto the football team by sticking to his dreams and never giving up on himself even though his father already did. Everybody in the movie learned how hard Rudy had worked to accomplish his dreams.

Rudy had to overcome many obstacles to realize his dream of attending Notre Dame University. Describe at least four obstacles and how Rudy overcame them. How might you relate his struggles to your own?
Although Rudy achieved his goals there were situations and events that could have stopped Rudy from achieving these, list five of them. Explain how.
Did Rudy have a strategy for achieving his goal of becoming a Notre Dame football player? What specific steps did he take to get from working in the factory to ultimately running out onto the field for the Georgia Tech game?
How was the strategy of setting smaller goals to achieve larger ones demonstrated in this movie?
How did Rudy’s persistence affect those around him, including his family, his high school girl friend Sherry, his college friend D-Bob, and his Notre Dame teammates?
Rudy and D-Bob serve as models of cooperative learning as they help each other meet their individual goals. Based upon their example, what do you think would be features of cooperative learning? Was each successful in meeting his goals?

Look at you. You're 5-foot-nothin' and you weigh a hundred and nothin', and with hardly a speck of athletic ability.
So says Fortune, a groundskeeper at the Notre Dame stadium, to Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger Jr., whose dream is to play for the Fighting Irish. Rudy is not insane. He doesn't expect to start. It would fulfill his lifetime dream simply to wear the uniform and get on the field for one play during the regular season, and get his name in the tiniest print in the school archives.
Almost everyone except Fortune thinks his dream is foolish.
Rudy comes from a working-class family in Joliet, where his father (Ned Beatty) joins his family, his teachers, his neighbors and just about everybody else in assuring him that he lacks not only the brawn but also the brains to make it into a top school like Notre Dame.
But Rudy persists. And although his story reads, in outline, like an anthology of cliches from countless old rags-to-riches sports movies, "Rudy" persists, too. It has a freshness and an earnestness that gets us involved, and by the end of the film we accept Rudy's dream as more than simply sports sentiment. It's a small but powerful illustration of the human spirit.
The movie was directed by David Anspaugh, who directed another great Indiana sports movie, "Hoosiers," in 1986. Both films show an attention to detail, and a preference for close observation of the characters rather than sweeping sports sentiment. In "Rudy," Anspaugh finds a serious, affecting performance by Sean Astin, the erstwhile teen idol, as a quiet, determined kid who knows he doesn't have all the brains in the world, but is determined to do the best he can with the hand he was dealt.
To start with, he can't get into Notre Dame. He doesn't have the grades. But he's accepted across the street at Holy Cross, where an understanding priest (the benevolent Robert Prosky) offers advice and encouragement. Finally Rudy is accepted by Notre Dame, one of the few remaining big football schools that still has tryouts for "walk-ons" - kids without starring high school careers or athletic scholarships.
It's the mid-1970s. The Notre Dame coach is Ara Parseghian (Jason Miller). He doesn't know what to make of this squirt who is happy to play on a practice team and offer his body up week after week so that the big Irish linemen can batter and bruise him on their way to a Saturday victory. Rudy isn't really even good enough to be the lowliest sub, but he has great heart (something that is observed perhaps a little too often in the dialogue).
The movie is not cluttered up with extraneous subplots. A hometown girlfriend (Lili Taylor) is left behind, and for four years Rudy turns into a grind, studying nonstop to make his grades, and sometimes sleeping on a cot in the groundskeeper's room because he doesn't have money for rent. His father continues to think he's crazy. But Rudy shows him.
Underdog movies are a durable genre and never go out of style. They're fairly predictable, in the sense that few movie underdogs ever lose in the big last scene. The notion is enormously appealing, however, because everyone can identify in one way or another.
In "Rudy," Astin's performance is so self-effacing, so focused and low-key, that we lose sight of the underdog formula and begin to focus on this dogged kid who won't quit. And the last big scene is an emotional powerhouse, just the way it's supposed to be.

This film is not necessarily a "sports film", it is a film for anyone whomever dared to follow a dream. First, was the idea of a dream. Then came the dream. If you have any passion or determination, the dream becomes an obsession. That may be unhealthy and an obstacle all its own, but if you prevail there is no sweeter adventure in life. Rudy's obsessive goal informs every single thought and action he takes. And it is only through that obsession and the inherent passion that feeds it that he can obtain this cinematically wondrous achievement. Rudy, the film, gets most of the small details (and large ones) right. From the pastor whom sees the good in helping a lost soul to the former player, now a stadium maintenance supervisor, whom offers sound advice and truth. Many moments in this film are filled with truth. The emotion hits the mark in the film's inspiring conclusion, and proves that there is a light at the end of the tunnel... in a football stadium where Rockne, Hornung & Montana all became legends. Rudy, the man and the film, have become legend too.

“Rudy” is a worthwhile, fact-based story about a college-age student who refuses to give up his dream.
Although he and his family are die-hard Notre Dame fans, “Rudy” (Sean Astin) has always been told he’s not smart enough for college and certainly not big and strong enough for college football. As expected, he goes to work in the local steel mill; but then a mill accident involving his close friend spurs him to take another look at what’s most important to him in life. He decides to ignore the limits others have placed on him and to put everything he has into chasing his dream. It’s amazing how far that determination takes him.
The film has just enough profanity to make it a hard call for younger kids. There’s a death, and a scene of college kids drinking beer. The football practice scenes are realistically violent. No sexual content. One classroom scene contains an “interesting” view of the doctrine of Biblical Inspiration.
Some may feel that pouring your whole life into something like football is a waste. Probably true. But even if so, the general principle of pursuing a goal relentlessly can be taken and applied anywhere, in any life situation. If you choose to watch “Rudy”, you will be inspired by this touching true story.

“Well you know what my dad always said; having dreams is what makes life tolerable.” This was said by Pete in Rudy (1993) to inspire Rudy to follow his dreams. Rudy Ruettiger was a small town dreamer. He grew up in Joliet, Illinois with his large, happy, Catholic family. His biggest dream was to play Notre Dame Football. When he finally got a chance to try, he never gave up. The movie Rudy is about life-lessons that everybody can use in their own lives.

Initially, the characters in the movie Rudy display an effective example of theme. In this movie there are many inspiring characters. Pete, one of Rudy’s best friends was one of the most influential people in his life. He was the only person from his past that motivated him. Later in Rudy’s life more encouraging people came around. In the movie Pete ends up part of a tragedy that will affect Rudy and his life goals forever. Pete helped change Rudy by always encouraging him to stick to his goals. When Pete was no longer around Rudy, he decided it was time to do what he said and fulfill his dreams.

Another example of theme in Rudy is the conflicts that the football player creates and the adventure. Some people in Rudy’s family didn’t think he would ever make the team let alone get into the school. They didn’t think he could make it out there alone. Along Rudy’s journey D-BOB, Pete, and Fortune were the people along the way who supported him the most. Mr. Ruettiger, Rudy’s dad, and his sons didn’t believe that he would ever make the team or ever play in a game. Through all of this, Rudy just listened to the positive people and kept on working at his dream with all of his heart.

For the finale of Rudy, the resolution of the film demonstrates the lesson of always following your dreams. Rudy worked really hard with his Dyslexia and grades to get into Notre Dame so that he would be eligible for the football team. He learned that when you are persistent you can overcome just about anything. Rudy made it onto the football team by sticking to his dreams and never giving up on himself even though his father already did. Everybody in the movie learned how hard Rudy had worked to accomplish his dreams.

Everybody can use life-lessons from the movie Rudy in their own life. Rudy is a hard working, persistent young man who just wanted to fulfill his life-long dream of playing Notre Dame Football. From this story anybody could get that it’s important to stick with your dreams as much as possible. This story teaches all of its viewers that sticking to your dreams is very important. Rudy went through a lot of hard work to get to where he ended up. His story made me want to always follow my dreams and have others do the same.

Daniel E. "Rudy" Ruettiger (Sean Astin) dreams of attending and playing football for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, but his small stature, financial situation and low grades stand in his way. Based on a true story, Rudy is not merely a football movie, but an inspiring story of never giving up on your dreams no matter the circumstances.
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This is truly one of the most inspirational movies ever made. The first time I watched it was when it was released in 1993. My swim coach took the whole team to watch it and learn what true heart is all about. Yes, a swim team went to watch a football movie for inspiration. From start to finish, Rudy is a movie that can make even the most manly of men weep and inspire even the most downtrodden person.
It starts off with a young, diminutive Rudy playing football with his much bigger brothers and best friend. Wearing a golden football helmet, Rudy is easily knocked to the ground, but quickly gets up. This simple scene sums up the essence of Rudy; get knocked down, get right up again. His family is loving, but realistic when Rudy talks about playing football for the University of Notre Dame. They know there is no chance. After working in the steel mills for four years and without the blessing of his father (Ned Beatty), Rudy enrolls in a college across the street from Notre Dame. He finds not only a job working for the groundskeeper (Charles S. Dutton) of the Notre Dame football field, but a friend and guide. Without a place to live, Rudy secretly stays in the work house of the football field. One of my favorite scenes is where Rudy finds a key to the work house left for him by the groundskeeper so he does not have to sneak in the window anymore. The moment is heartwarming and one of many throughout the film. Overcoming dyslexia and with the help of his tutor (Jon Favreau), Rudy finally transfers to Notre Dame for his senior year and through sheer willpower earns a spot on the practice squad of the football team. Because of his size, he is mainly a punching bag for the bigger, more athletic players, but he plays harder than anyone on the team determined to earn a chance to run out on the field during a game as a Notre Dame football player.
You do not have to be a football fan to enjoy this movie. The obstacles Rudy has to overcome are very real and everyone can relate to them. The writing and directing team from Hoosiers create a faithful rendition of the true story of Rudy Ruettiger and Sean Astin's performance of determination and desire is palpable. Rudy showcases the purest form of the American dream. Never give up and you can overcome anything.

As they showed in Hoosiers, director David Anspaugh and writer Angelo Pizzo know their cornball. Their subject this time is an Illinois high-school kid, short on height, weight, good grades and athletic ability, who dreams of playing football for Notre Dame. He gets his wish. It's the movies. It's also a true story.
Sean Astin is a winner as Rudy Ruettiger, who earns the grades, a place on the scout team and, in 1975, a chance to play for a glorious 27 seconds. There's little Rocky-like rah-rah. It's Ruettiger's persistence that his teammates and the film celebrate. For that, Rudy earns a rousing cheer.

Some people gravitate toward Miracle as being their number one favorite sports movie. Others are more fond of Major League. Me, I am more of a Bad News Bears kind of guy. However, there is one thing about these movies that are more in common with each other, and in turn, separate themselves from Rudy. Yes, they are all great films. But, they all are about teams going towards one goal. Rudy really resonated with me because it was about one boy’s dream. One boy’s drive to make his dad proud. One dream: to play football for the University of Notre Dame. The film starred Sean Astin, who was in an interesting point in his career at this time. He was pre Sam in Lord of the Rings, and post Mikey from Goonies. He was on the cusp of growing up and being a man. However, there was not a shot that he would make it as an adult actor now, would he? All one has to do is look at the future fate of his Goonies castmate Corey Feldman to know that. However, there is one difference between those two that gets overlooked. If given this challenge, Feldman would not be able to match it. Astin has just the likability and willingness for one to root for him that he pulls this role off. And does it beautifully.
The real Daniel Ruettiger (Rudy’s real name) makes it clear that he would not have lived his dream if it had not been for a supporting cast around him. And, the same can be told from the narrative success of the movie. Favreau, who was only two years away from starting his directing career that would eventually land him in the director’s chair of Iron Man, stars as his friend D-Bob. A guy who, of course, tells him to keep following his dream. But, also helps him be a teenager, meeting girls and such. Ned Beatty is real good as his father who never missed a Notre Dame game on TV, and is reluctant to let his son go. However, the real good turn is by Charles S. Dutton, who at the time was known mainly for his sitcom Roc and Alien 3 (come to think of it, he’s still known for those things). His very subtle facial expressions while Rudy does things like run the field pretending to run back a kickoff and reenact coach’s speeches in the maintenance room, have just the right amount of shown resentment yet admiration for the boy and his dream. His little steps in helping him accomplish this makes you feel good, and Dutton’s performance is a revelation. And of course, there’s Vaughn in his film debut as a complete jerk of a teammate. He would meet Favreau on this set and their partnership would live in independent film infamy.
Much like the most well known scores to films, the movie would undoubtedly dropped a few notches in quality had it not been for the flawless score done by Jerry Goldsmith. After having worked with this same writing/directing team for their 1986 film Hoosiers, he grinds out what is probably the most memorable score of his career here, which has appeared in over a dozen subsequent trailers. Sure, the film definitely has its flaws. Some bits, like D-Bob’s sorry attempts of asking a girl out and the much talked about is it real, is it not jersey folding scene fall a little flat. And, the ending does not get much more cheesy in the realms of film. However, as full of cheese that last 20 minutes is, it is no doubt inspiring. Not since Rocky have I stood up and clapped for a character after being engrossed in his story for over an hour. So, they made it a rousing cheese fest. But, if it inspires someone to fulfill a dream that they were told their whole lives they couldn’t do, then it has to be considered a success, doesn’t it?

Rudy Essay”

Rudy always dreamed of going to Northern Dame. No one in his family thought he will never go to college. But Rudy changes the entire negative to a positive. He uses 5 keys to get into Northern Dame. Also I’m going to use Rudy’s 5 keys to success to explain how am I going to use that in my life.

In the movie Rudy, Rudy uses 5 keys to success in life. Rudy always dream. He has been dreaming since he was little in the beginning of the movie. He is determined to get into Northern Dame. When Rudy’s friend died in a accident when working in the mill. Rudy has always been confidence even when his brothers are always trying to bring him down in the beginning of the movie. He has control his emotions in the movie when his brother got with his ex girlfriend. Also Rudy had always believed in himself from the beginning of the movie.

I’ve been having a feeling. My dream was to get into Harvard and UCLA. I’ve been deciding since 8th grade. It’s hard choosing what’s right for me. I love getting to know all the rules into being a lawyer. UCLA has a lot of things you can learn. But for now I want to go to UCLA. It is important for Rudy and I to dream big.

In the movie, Rudy was so determined to go to Northern Dame. I’m determined to go into one of the 2 colleges I had always dreamed of. Being determined can accomplish anything in my life. Rudy was so determined he finally got into Northern Dame. Also being determined can help me success.

I have always been confidence of my dreams. Confidence means to me success. I believe being confidence is a gift. You have the guts to stand up for yourself. Also you tell and show everyone what you’re made of.

I like to control my anger on something I can’t accomplish. Emotions means to me is an experiment. When you fail you feel disappointed, because in the future when you do fail you’ll know what to do. You can always try again and again, like what Rudy did when he got rejected over and over until one day

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