October Sky - The Memorable TV DVD Review

Distributor: Universal Home Entertainment
Certificate: PG | Region 1 | NTSC | 108 minutes
Available to buy
Director: Joe Johnston
Extras: Yes

ANYONE IN IT WE KNOW?

Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Chris Owen, Laura Dern

WHAT’S IT ABOUT THEN?

In 1957 in a small West Viriginian coal mining town young Homer Hickham Jr (Jake Gyllenhaal) sees the Sputnik satellite in the night sky and embarks on an amazing quest (helped by his friends) to build his own rocket.

SO IS IT ANY GOOD?

Based on the real life story of Homer Hickham and the book (Rocket Boys) he penned about his growing up in the small mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia in the 1950's, October Sky is a real nostalgic breath of air, made in 1998 by Rocketeer director Joe Johnston the heart of the movie is the relationship between Hickham (Gyllenhaal displays a casual intelligence in this movie) and his father Homer Snr (Chris Cooper) who doesn't see the value in his boy spending so much time on his ideas and dreams, the working man ethic well to the fore.

Some quality acting (including a nice turn from Laura Dern as a sympathetic teacher), a real sense of the period and an evocative score add greatly to your enjoyment of the flick. A real family film that gives you the "feel good" glow and lives long in the memory October Sky is well worth checking out.

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?

AIMING HIGH high is a documentary of the real life "rocket boys" following Homer from his coal mining town to NASA, there are also production notes, a location featurette, theatrical trailer and a great commentary from Homer Hickham himself.