October Sky (1999)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers (WGA):

Homer H. Hickam Jr. (book)
Lewis Colick (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Family

Tagline:

Sometimes one dream is enough to light up the whole sky.

Plot:

The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.

Plot Keywords:

Rocket | Teacher | Science | Mining | Sputnik

Awards:

3 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Homer Hickam
Chris Cooper	...	John Hickam
Laura Dern	...	Miss Riley
Chris Owen	...	Quentin
William Lee Scott	...	Roy Lee
Chad Lindberg	...	O'Dell
Natalie Canerday	...	Elsie Hickam
Scott Miles	...	Jim Hickam
Randy Stripling	...	Leon Bolden
Chris Ellis	...	Principal Turner
Elya Baskin	...	Ike Bykovsky
Courtney Cole-Fendley	...	Dorothy Platt (as Courtney Fendley)
David Dwyer	...	Jake Mosby
Terry Loughlin	...	Mr. Dantzler
Kailie Hollister	...	Valentine Carmina (as Kaili Hollister)

Also Known As:

Rocket Boys (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language, brief teen sensuality and alcohol use, and for some thematic elements.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-3 (2004) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:14A | France:U | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:II | Mexico:A | New Zealand:PG | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Sweden:7 (re-rating) | Sweden:Btl (original rating) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG | Finland:K-10 (2000)

Filming Locations:

Fountain City Elementary School - 2910 Montbelle Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Cameo: [O. Winston Link]a photographer who has published many classic photographs of steam locomotives appears as a locomotive engineer.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the shot where Homer first steps off the truck after returning from the Science Fair, a camera is clearly visible at the left hand side of the screen.

Quotes:

[imitating, incorrectly, Quentin's favorite saying]
Roy Lee: Prodigenous!

Movie Connections:

Featured in My Big Break (2009)

Soundtrack:

My Prayer

Inspirational

I loved this movie. It is one of the few movies that I have consistently recommended to friends to rent and have had all of them thank me for the referral. The film has some powerful themes that are beautifully scripted. The acting is superb all around (Chris Cooper has never turned in a bad acting role in my opinion!) The message of this film is so well delivered, so powerful, that it moved me to tears the first time I saw it. Not sad tears, which are easily solicited by cinema formula, but tears of joy--a rare thing.

Although I did not grow up in the 1950's, I believe this film honestly portrays the mood and setting of the time. Given today's harsh world with all its complications, watching this film is a welcome escape to a time of innocence, wonder, and discovery. Highly recommended!