October Sky (Movie Review)

Overlooked by the Academy Awards and most ofoutcasts.
the movie viewing public, October Sky turned out toAs Homer's father becomes ill from the deadly
be one of the best movies of 1999. Based on theeffects of coal dust, he pushes his son to support
true life story of Homer Hickman, a coalminer's sonthe family by entering the mine. Unable to see the
inspired to learn about rocketry following the launchbright potential of his son's interest in rockets, John
of the Soviet satellite Sputnik, October Sky is moreHickman (Chris Cooper) battles Homer every step of
than just a film about rockets, it's a film about onethe way as he pursues his passion. But Homer
man overcoming the trials and tribulations thatremains committed, and when he and his friends
attempt to run him down. The emphasis placed onbegin launching rockets from a new site outside of
the passion of the human spirit and its ability totown, more and more people begin showing up to
overcome great conflict and achieve feats ofsee the brilliant spectacle... When Homer's hero,
wondrous heights makes October Sky a film that isGerman rocket scientist and NASA engineer Wernher
certain to enjoy an enduring legacy and a heighteningvon Braun, replies to a letter Homer wrote, the path
in stature among critics with the passing of time...is cleared for the students to exhibit their work at
Set in a 1950s West Virginia town, October Skythe National Science Awards.
follows the life of Homer Hickman (Jake Gyllenhaal),Encouraged by Miss Riley, Homer and his friends are
the teenage son of a coalminer who pushes his sonprepared to put their entire future on the line at this
to follow in his footsteps. Growing up in a townone exhibition, where the prize includes fully paid
where coal is king, the citizens of Homer's world can'tscholarships to some of the top universities in
fathom pursuing a career in any other field. But whenAmerica...
Homer's classroom is informed of the Soviet launchThe inspiring tale of a boy and his friends who never
of Sputnik, the satellite inspires Homer to learngive up on believing in themselves, October Sky is a
everything he can about rockets, satellites, andfeel-good movie reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart and
inner-orbiting spacecraft. Goaded on by their teacherFrank Capra. Outside of the traditional mold of action
Frieda Riley (Laura Dern), Homer and his friends studysuper-thriller or blood-spilling reality drama, October
the various aspects of a rocket launch and beginSky bucks the trend of cinematic commercialism by
staging the launch of their own homemade rockets.offering its audience a more intelligent foray into the
But their trial and error experiments go awry, puttingworld of film and storytelling. This trend toward
the local townspeople in the path of their errantquality cinematography is one we can only hope will
rocket launches, and they incur the wrath and disdaincontinue.
of a community that views them as freaks and