October Sky
DVD - 2005 | Special edition, Widescreen
Coalwood, West Virginia, 1957. Working in the coal mines is an inescapable way of life in this small town. When high schooler Homer Hickam, Jr. sees the Sputnik satellite in the night sky, he dares to break free of the mines and reach for the stars. With the support of his teacher and three friends, Homer sets out on an inspiring quest to build his own rocket. Overcoming a poor education, a tough father, and a series of misfires, Homer turns his dreams into reality in this true story.
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Publisher:
Universal City, CA : Universal, [2005]
Edition:
Special edition, Widescreen
ISBN:
9781417013951
1417013958
1417013958
Characteristics:
1 videodisc (108 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in
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Add a CommentA poignant trip down memory lane for those of us who were alive in the 1950s. Though no matter when you were born, October Sky will have exhausted all your emotions by the end of the film.
The story is about a boy named Homer who loves the science of rockets. Homer's dad wants Homer to work in the coal mines in West Virginia, but Homer prefers to stay in school and go to college. Throughout the movie you see how Homer matures and begins to learn about advanced calculus math. In fact, Homer manages to win the State Science Fair medal and earns his free full ride scholarship to the university of his choice. The life of a coal miner is a dignified and honorable profession, but Homer deserved to leave that coal mining industry because he had the intelligence and tenacity to learn about rocket science. In fact, he is known as one of the Rocket Boys.
I like this film even though there’s some spoon feeding theatrics: a shooting star goes by the window: good and bad are obviously portrayed. But it’s based on a true story of Homer Hickam’s life and the incredible obstacles he overcame. And Chris Cooper, local boy, is in it.
Great movie based on a true story.
Great movie. Well done and inspirational.
Excellent story and movie.
I saw this when it was first released and after that 5 times. It's one of the BEST inspirational movies of the 90's along with Saving Private Ryan.
Totally inspiring...what a great movie to watch with your kids (or anybody's kids!) to encourage them to follow their dreams. Excellent!
A Hollywood-ready but true story. There is the odd speechifying moment, but October Sky is finely directed and acted, and has an unselfconscious sense of period. There are not many movies that make me cry happy tears, but this is one. BONUS: not sure if this was intentional, but there are overtones between Jake Gyllenhaal and Laura Dern, who plays his passionately supportive teacher. Jakey was a big boy for his age.
Jake Gyllenhaal is a fine actor (see him in "Rendition") and this is an early film of his. Based on a fantastic and true story and set in the 1950s, it has a terrific sound track to match. Funny and charming with appealing characters. Yes, it is a bit sappy and hokey but so what? It's great entertainment.