Here's what critics wrote about Sean Astin's portrayal of Sam Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
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Todd McCarthy |
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. |
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Claire Harvey |
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. |
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Lisa Schwarzbaum |
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. |
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Nev Pierce |
Astin is excellent again. |
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Terry Lawson |
A standout performance by Astin. |
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Robin Clifford |
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. |
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Lou Lumenick |
Sean Astin emerges as the epic's emotional center in a beautiful performance |
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Kenneth Turan |
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. |
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Frank Swietek |
Astin's eager, ordinary, utterly supportive Sam becomes in his unpretentious way perhaps the most heroic and affecting character of all. |
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Alex Sandell |
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. |
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Mary Ann Johanson |
Sean Astin, in the performance of his life, imbues his Sam with all sorts of qualities -- bravery, strength -- that Sam would deny he has. |
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Sean P Means |
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. |
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Moira Macdonald |
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. |
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Chris Hewitt |
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. |