One of my all time favorites.

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

My All American falls into the trap into thinking it is reinventing the wheel when point in fact, the wheel has a flat. Bringing in Angelo Pizzo who wrote Rudy & Hoosiers, one would think this story's success was in the bag but we have a lead character we learn nothing about being praised for doing what most people who endure adversity do, persevere. I would probably skip this one entirely but if you feel the need to put yourself through the emotional wringer, watch the slightly better the Express or the granddaddy of all daddies of sports film weepies, the original Brian's Song.

An elderly Coach Royal (Aaron Eckhart) is being interviewed about his playing days. He starts recounting one of his player named Freddie Steinmark (Finn Wittrock). Steinmark isn't an All-American player but he has an All-American heart. He is a hard-working, religious, and pious kid. He's the first to arrive and the last to leave. Linda Wheeler (Sarah Bolger) is his high school sweetheart. He plays for Royal's University of Texas Longhorns.Nothing really dramatic happens in the first two thirds of the movie. There are some cute stuff like his puppy love with Sarah Bolger. Wittrock isn't that charismatic and the character is very square. It's a very straight biopic. The writer should realize the meat of the story is the eventual expected medical issue. Honestly, I don't know anything about the true story. Since nothing happens for most of the movie, I assumed that some big tragedy happens in the climax. That's what happens in most of these movies and in this one, it's not that climatic.Even the twist is problematic. Essentially, Steinmark is too stubborn to go to a doctor. It's playing-thru-the-pain ethos on steroids. Even his refusing to use a wheelchair is problematic. He's willing to pop his stitches and ignore his doctor. There are ways to make this a compelling journey. It would make more emotional sense if people start pitying him. This could have been a great movie about the battle for his life. Instead, we're spending hours on the predictable football games.

This film, in my eyes, was the perfect mix of beautiful story telling and action which allows the story to progress whilst keeping the film enjoyable for the whole 2hrs. I would say though that if you don't like sport the first half of the film may be difficult viewing but I do not play American football and was still able to appreciate action. As for the story, it did not disappoint and for me the conclusion was very satisfying. All in all, I was laughing at start and by the end I was in tears, the perfect rolercoaster for an amazing film experienceAlso, very inspirational true story, I can't believe what the guy went through.

The is based upon a true storyUniversity 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.