Last week, I joined a group of girlfriends for a movie that I had heard some buzz about, and I was intrigued to see what everyone had been talking about. It didn’t take too long into the movie for me to realize that the highlight of the film was most definitely going to be one member of the magnificent ensemble cast- Sam Rockwell. Shortly into his time on the screen, I leaned into my friend on one side and asked, “Did you know who this guy was? I don’t recognize him at all, but I think he’s my new favorite actor!”
The film we had the great pleasure of watching together was “The Way, Way Back,” which I highly recommend for the perfect summer movie outing with some awesome pals. Our group of five unanimously agreed that it was a funny, touching, and sincere film, and every member of the cast carried their roles perfectly. (Though I did find it challenging to see Steve Carell play such a mean-spirited tool.)
Sam Rockwell plays Owen, a goofy, man-child kind of character, whose semi-irresponsibility is somehow swept away by his charm and sense of humor. His protective nature is quickly revealed through his interactions with the teenaged main character, and it’s quite easy to fall for him on the screen as I quickly did! Here’s some of his basic info:
- Name: Sam Rockwell
- Hometown: Rockwell was born in Dale City, CA, to actor parents.
- Age: 44
- Marital Status: Never been married, though according to the good folks at Wikipedia, he has been in a relationship with actress Leslie Bibb for six years.
- You Know Him From: Well, here’s the thing, I didn’t know him from anywhere, though when I whispered to my friend about him in the theater, she responded by saying, “Don’t you know Galaxy Quest?” I can’t say that I had ever heard of that 1999 flick, but apparently it’s a funny sci-fi parody and she said he was awesome in it. After the movie, we stood outside the theater with dueling smartphones looking up his acting history and realized that he had been in many films over the years, including Seven Psychopaths, Iron Man 2, Frost/Nixon, Choke, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
- Why Him: His presence in The Way, Way Back was vivid, even as his character was so laid back. Somehow he looked hot wearing an old pair of swim trunks and a plain white sleeveless undershirt. When he came out with baggy white linen pants, a gaudy Hawaiian shirt, and a straw hat (on backwards, even), I about melted into my seat. There was just something about him up on that screen, and my friend and I giggled about it for what was likely an obnoxiously long time during the film.
Check out the official trailer for “The Way, Way Back,” and pay attention around the :52 mark for Sam Rockwell. Prepare to be charmed.
photo credits: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Dawn loves going to the movies, especially in the summer and especially with friends who love to laugh as much as she does. She blogs at my thoughts exactly and reviews books at 5 Minutes for Books.
