Sean Astin's Movie Obsession: 'It Has Overwhelmed My Life'
The Lord of the Rings star reveals which 1990s noir thriller he can't stop watching, calling it a perfect film that dominates his viewing habits.
Sean Astin's career spans decades, anchored by two massive cultural touchstones from different eras. The Goonies launched him in 1985, while Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy cemented his place in early 2000s cinema. Those fantasy epics are now over two decades old, adding to Astin's impressive staying power in Hollywood.
Beyond acting, Astin has served as head of SAG-AFTRA, the major actors' union. His appearance as Joyce's romantic interest in Stranger Things season two was a welcome surprise for fans. Unfortunately, his character met a grisly end courtesy of a demogorgon, preventing any potential nostalgic callbacks to his earlier roles in the series finale.
Peak Years and Career Evolution
Astin's golden period stretched from the late 1980s through the early 1990s. He appeared in distinctly era-specific films like The War of the Roses, Toy Soldiers, Encino Man, and Memphis Belle. These movies captured the zeitgeist of their time in ways that would be difficult to replicate today.
After a relatively quiet decade, Jackson cast him as Samwise Gamgee, revitalizing his career. But during those quieter years, Astin discovered what would become his cinematic obsession.
The Film That Consumes His Time
Curtis Hanson's LA Confidential became Astin's ultimate viewing addiction. The 1997 noir thriller starring Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe earned his highest praise when speaking to Rotten Tomatoes.
"I love LA Confidential. If it's on for even a second, I just watch it to the end. I almost want to call my cable service provider and ask them not to show it any more, because it has overwhelmed my life," Astin explained.
He continued praising the ensemble cast: "And the performances! I mean, David Strathairn and Russell Crowe and Kim Basinger and Kevin Spacey and James Cromwell... Police corruption, and justice, vigilante justice, and it's just got everything. It's just a perfect movie."
The Film's Legacy and Astin's Future
Based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel, LA Confidential explores corrupt LAPD detectives in 1950s Hollywood. The film earned nine Academy Award nominations, winning two. It launched Russell Crowe's meteoric rise, leading to Oscar nominations for his next two films and a win for Gladiator.
The movie's success might have been even greater without competing against James Cameron's Titanic that same year. Astin has two upcoming projects: the low-budget thriller A Social Contract and Chili Finger, co-starring Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston. The latter tells the story of a woman who discovers a human finger in her restaurant meal and attempts to blackmail the establishment for compensation.