October Sky (DVD) Review

Overlooked by the Academy Awards and most ofAs Homer's father becomes ill from the deadly
the movie viewing public, October Sky turned out toeffects of coal dust, he pushes his son to support
be one of the best movies of 1999. Based on thethe family by entering the mine. Unable to see the
true life story of Homer Hickman, a coalminer's sonbright potential of his son's interest in rockets, John
inspired to learn about rocketry following the launchHickman (Chris Cooper) battles Homer every step of
of the Soviet satellite Sputnik, October Sky is morethe way as he pursues his passion. But Homer
than just a film about rockets, it's a film about oneremains committed, and when he and his friends
man overcoming the trials and tribulations thatbegin launching rockets from a new site outside of
attempt to run him down. The emphasis placed ontown, more and more people begin showing up to
the passion of the human spirit and its ability tosee the brilliant spectacle... When Homer's hero,
overcome great conflict and achieve feats ofGerman rocket scientist and NASA engineer Wernher
wondrous heights makes October Sky a film that isvon Braun, replies to a letter Homer wrote, the path
certain to enjoy an enduring legacy and a heighteningis cleared for the students to exhibit their work at
in stature among critics with the passing of time...the National Science Awards.
Set in a 1950s West Virginia town, October SkyEncouraged by Miss Riley, Homer and his friends are
follows the life of Homer Hickman (Jake Gyllenhaal),prepared to put their entire future on the line at this
the teenage son of a coalminer who pushes his sonone exhibition, where the prize includes fully paid
to follow in his footsteps. Growing up in a townscholarships to some of the top universities in
where coal is king, the citizens of Homer's world can'tAmerica...
fathom pursuing a career in any other field. But whenThe inspiring tale of a boy and his friends who never
Homer's classroom is informed of the Soviet launchgive up on believing in themselves, October Sky is a
of Sputnik, the satellite inspires Homer to learnfeel-good movie reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart and
everything he can about rockets, satellites, andFrank Capra. Outside of the traditional mold of action
inner-orbiting spacecraft. Goaded on by their teachersuper-thriller or blood-spilling reality drama, October
Frieda Riley (Laura Dern), Homer and his friends studySky bucks the trend of cinematic commercialism by
the various aspects of a rocket launch and beginoffering its audience a more intelligent foray into the
staging the launch of their own homemade rockets.world of film and storytelling. This trend toward
But their trial and error experiments go awry, puttingquality cinematography is one we can only hope will
the local townspeople in the path of their errantcontinue. Sporting a colorful cast of characters rife
rocket launches, and they incur the wrath and disdainwith conflict and passion, October Sky is a definite
of a community that views them as freaks andmust-see film that you won't want to miss.
outcasts.