|
Todd McCarthy
Variety |
Sam, especially, emerges as a
three-dimensional character of intense devotion to Frodo even after he
has been tricked by the Iago-like Gollum and exiled by his closest
friend . . . Astin comes into his own as Sam here in a big way,
investing the young man with mature emotions and an unbreakable bond
with friends. |
|
Claire Harvey
The Weekend Australian |
The performances of actors such as Sean Astin,
playing the hobbit Samwise Gamgee, are so touching that even a cinema of
hardened hacks was snuffling before the 200 minutes were up. |
|
Lisa Schwarzbaum
Entertainment Weekly
|
Most profoundly of all, the balance of heroism shifts
between Frodo and Sam -- the hobbit with greatness thrust on him, and
the theoretically less remarkable, decent hobbit by his side -- so that
in an accretion of revelatory acts, we realize that it's Sam whose saga
this really is. |
|
Nev Pierce
BBC |
Astin is excellent again. |
|
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press |
A standout performance by Astin. |
|
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews |
The best thing in “RotK,” though, turns out to be the
least likely candidate to be an action hero figure. Sean Astin is
wonderfully developed as the loyal friend and servant, Samwise Gamgee,
who accompanies Frodo on his dangerous quest. Sam must do double duty,
helping his fast weakening master to get to Mount Doom to destroy the
Ring and keeping a justifiably watchful eye on the conniving and sneaky
Gollum. Sam has become one of the most fully developed of all of the
“Ring” characters and Astin deserves credit. |
|
Lou Lumenick
New York Post |
Sean Astin emerges as the epic's emotional center in a
beautiful performance |
|
Kenneth Turan
The Los Angeles Times |
One of the most satisfying aspects of "The Return of
the King" is that some of the actors we've seen the most of do
especially well here. McKellen makes the most of Gandalf's moments,
Mortensen increasingly becomes the epitome of heroic grace, and Astin
brings the kind of dignity and quiet strength to Sam increasingly called
for by the role. |
|
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion |
Astin's eager, ordinary, utterly supportive Sam becomes
in his unpretentious way perhaps the most heroic and affecting character
of all. |
|
Alex Sandell
The Juicy Cerebellum |
Sean deserves to be separated from the rest of the
pack, for his wonderful acting in this film. None of the actors are
phoning in their lines, and most do a fine job, but Astin's work
deserves an Oscar. He is forced through such a huge gamut of emotion in
the film, and he's believable, throughout. This movie is as much Sam's,
as it is Frodo's. As a matter of fact, I would say that Sam is the star
of The Return of the King, in the way that I thought Gollum was the star
of The Two Towers and Frodo that of The Fellowship of the Ring. |
|
Mary Ann Johanson
The Flick Philosopher |
Sean Astin, in the performance of his life, imbues his
Sam with all sorts of qualities -- bravery, strength -- that Sam would
deny he has. |
|
Sean P Means
The Salt Lake Tribune |
If there is an unexpected MVP, it's Astin, who gives
Sam a tearful humanity (or Hobbit-ity, if you prefer) and a grim
determination to soldier on at all costs. |
|
Moira Macdonald
The Seattle Times |
Astin, who as Sam has a lovely, wistful quality (he
always seems just on the verge of apology), at times quietly steals the
movie; he's a miniature tower of strength. |
|
Chris Hewitt
The St. Paul Pioneer Press |
Astin is the film's most valuable player, effortlessly
conveying the essence of a character with an otherworldly decency and
devotion. Since the first film, Astin has carried the emotional weight
of this trilogy on his back and, in this case, he does it literally. |
