In an intimate interview with the cast members of the upcoming film "My All American," The Christian Post spoke to actors Aaron Eckhart, Finn Wittrock, Sarah Bolger, and director Angelo Pizzo about honoring American college football player Freddie Steinmark's legacy and remarkable character through the upcoming release.
From the writer of "Rudy" and "Hoosiers" comes "My All American," the inspirational real-life account of University of Texas football player Freddie Steinmark, whose life was cut short by cancer but his legacy lives on until this day.
Official Synopsis: What Freddie Steinmark wants most in the world is to play football. Deemed too small by the usual athletic standards, his father trains him hard, and Freddie brings a fight to the game that ultimately gets him noticed - by none other than legendary University of Texas coach Darrell Royal. Awarded a scholarship and a chance to play for the Longhorns, Freddie sets off to Austin determined to make the team. Alongside his old teammate Bobby Mitchell and new pal James Street they rise to the occasion, giving the Longhorns a real chance to turn the team around. But just when they're reveling in the success of the season, Freddie suffers an injury that leads him to a shocking diagnosis and the biggest challenge he will ever face.
"I think he kinda harkens back to an older time, a simpler time. Those guys were Southern boys in the '60s, they were kind of raised to be gentleman, there is a kind of etiquette to them that maybe has gone away a little bit," Wittrock told CP.
He added, "I think it's very refreshing in a world that can be so cynical to have someone that is so purely optimistic and idealistic but not in a totally innocent way. He was a fighter, he was competitive, and his faith was something that he quietly ingrained in himself."
The real-life Steinmark was a very committed Christian who attended church every day and believed in the power of prayer, but according to those around him, he never pushed his faith on anyone. The actor who plays Steinmark spoke about his character's core values more than anything. Wittrock upheld that people who knew the former Longhorn football player called him the "best person" they had ever known.
On playing the inspirational character, Wittrock noted that it was "a very healthy thing" for him to do "mentally and spiritually."
"I consider myself a spiritual person. I'm not necessarily a religious person in terms of going to church, but I did find his faith as something internal. An inner compass that kind of led him in the direction that he went," Wittrock shared. "He was always staying outside of himself and not succumbing to despair or grief. That's an incredible inner strength which I believe does come from his faith."
Well-known actor Aaron Eckhart ("Dark Knight," "Olympus Has Fallen") plays Steinmark's coach Darrell Royal, the character in which the movie begins and ends with. Eckhart shared that he wanted to be a part of the telling of this story because of its positive message.
"I'm always looking for ways to be a better person. I have a long way to go and [in] dealing with adversity I don't know that I would deal with it as well as Freddie did," Eckhart explained. "When I read this script I got emotional, that's why I wanted to do this movie. I think kids watching this script and seeing how Freddie played through pain and was inspirational, took on a bigger challenge."
The diverse actor said he believes the film has a larger role and purpose than throwing a football perfectly or tackling someone. "It's about how we rally around each other as human beings and come out better for it," he said.
Eckhart personally took the role because he wanted to do a movie that the whole family could go see. "It's a real story. It's not cartoons, its not superheroes, it's about people, and it's about the human heart. That's important to go see." He continues, "It's important for me to be involved in it for my growth and my evolution as a human being."
Throughout "My All American" it is clear that Steinmark had a peculiar approach to life and it was contagious to those around him. Eckhart pointed out that Freddie was indeed different then the other players. "He stood strong in his beliefs and that's a good message right there, that's a good example for kids today. I think if anything, Freddie's example as a respectful, well-mannered, humble, appreciative, loving kid is something that every kid needs to see."
"What better example can we show in Hollywood movies than that, and I'm glad that I'm a part of it," he maintains.
The leading lady in "My All American," Sarah Bolger, echoed what her co-stars had to say about Steinmark's life and values. Bolger plays the love of Steinmark's life, Linda Wheeler.
"There is a purity to the 1950s that I don't know myself," the young actress said. "Even the sexuality of it all, it was a more innocent style of love that we were portraying. I think it made it more weighted, more beautiful."
"I'd want my kid to be like him. That's how I see him," Bolger went on to say, "I want this movie, [when] you see Freddie and Linda [you say] 'I want to know those people. I want to be friends with those people. I want my kids to be like those people.'"
During our brief chat, writer and director Angelo Pizzo of the film pegged Steinmark a real-life hero. "I grew up loving westerns and there were always heroes that I admired and wished I could be like. I don't think there are too many movies out there that I would aspire to be like Spiderman or Batman you know? It's a different culture out there and [now] movies are made for the international market place," he said.
Pizzo said that the movie's primary financiers like himself also wanted to put something out there that was positive and that he could take his family to.
"Here is an authentic, real hero, that can be a role model for young men, and young women, and grown men and grown women, quite frankly," he stated. "This is someone who was short but made such a profound impact on everyone that he came in contact with and more importantly that still resonates and is meaningful 45 years later."
Similar to Whittrock, Pizzo honored Steinmark's strong faith. "Spirituality in a person's life is a very important component of living the well lived life," Pizzo concluded. "I think there are times that we are called upon that we have to reach down deep to find a deeper strength and sometimes faith is where we find it. I think it's a universal need that we all have."
"My All American" hits theaters November 13. Watch the trailer below.
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