Optimistic Story Wins Your Heart

by Jason R. Hewlett

Okay, we're faced with yet another movie based on a true story. We've sat through a lot of these lately. Enough to think that Hollywood has run out of new ideas...which I'm sure they have judging from the number of remakes we're seeing lately too. So we go in and prepare for either another "Patch Adams" or hopefully another "Civil Action." We lean towards the latter and end up with a bit of a surprise.

"October Sky" turns out to be quite good. Like "A Civil Action" it comes across as uncontrived and true to the heart. It goes for "the feel good moment" more then once but doesn't feel forced. It succeeds as an optimistic drama and we are left feeling glad to have been taken along for the ride. I know it sounds like I'm gushing but the movie worked its' magic on me...and I don't dig on "feel good moments!" Give me a "Seven" or "The Crow" anyday and I'll be happy.

The movie details the exploits of one Homer Hickam, a high school student nearing the end of his scholastic career during the fall of 1957. He lives in a mining town where almost no one escapes their fate of being miners. The only way out of this dreary place is through a football scholarship and poor Homer just doesn't have the physical merit for that. One day Homer and his friends are joining the township in watching the newly launched Sputnik satellite fly over head and Homer is suddenly inspired to launch a rocket of his own. He recruits his three reluctant friends and the school nerd and they begin building and test flying rockets. Their goal: a science fair where the prize is a science scholarship and escape from the mine!

Lewis Colick's script piles on the obstacles to Homer's success. The boys are suspected as the starters of a forest fire because of one of their rockets crashing into a forest. Homer's dad, a heroic but cynical figure brilliantly portrayed by Chris Cooper, has his hear tset on Homer being a miner and discourages his son every step of the way. His dad is injured in a mining accident and Homer is forced to work the mine to keep the family supported financially. It's one problem after another but instead of the movie feeling forced it feels real and hopeful. A lot of this can be attributed to the scripts sense of humor. There's a lot to laugh at here. Just watching the boys trying to get a rocket to launch properly is worth the price of admission (one blows up his mother's fence and another nearly wipes out his dad at the mine).

Another plus to the film is the lead character, Homer. He is played with such optimistic honesty by Jake Gyllenhaal that one can't help but be inspired. His performance feels so real and so heartfelt that I wasn't watching an actor..I was watching a person. He is the glue that holds the film together.

Admitably the film's last act, when Homer goes to the science fair, is a bit standard formula but by this time we can accept it. We've been so hooked for the previous hour and a half that we forgive any cardboard ending. Besides, the real Homer Hickam ended up working for NASA so it's no surprise when he does win. It's also nice that the director (Joe Johnston of "The Rocketeer" fame) put in real Super 8 film of the actual characters portrayed in the movie over the end wrap-up. It made the film feel complete.

Overall, a great effort. I hope it's remembered around Oscar time next year.

9 out of 10!