October Sky
Sometimes one dream is enough to light up the whole sky.
Homer Hickam is a kid with only one future in sight, to work in the local coal mine like his father. However, in October 1957 everything changes when the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, goes into orbit. When Homer sees the Soviet satellite streak overhead, he becomes inspired to learn how to build rockets. With the help of his friends, and the local nerd, Homer sets to do just that by trial and a lot of error. Unfortunately, most of the town, and especially Homer's father, thinks that they are wasting their time. Only one teacher understands their efforts and lets them know that they could become contenders in the national science fair with college scholarships being the prize. Now the gang must learn to perfect their craft and overcome the many problems facing them as they shoot for the stars.
Production
Production
Trailers & Videos
October Sky trailer
Cast
Jake Gyllenhaal
Homer Hickam
Chris Cooper
John Hickam
Chris Owen
Quentin Wilson
Laura Dern
Miss Riley
William Lee Scott
Roy Lee
Chad Lindberg
O'Dell
Natalie Canerday
Elsie Hickam
Ilya Baskin
Ike Bykovsky
Chris Ellis
Principal Turner
Scott Thomas
Jim Hickam
Randy Stripling
Leon Bolden
Courtney Cole-Fendley
Dorothy Platt
David Dwyer
Jake Mosby
Kaili Hollister
Valentine Carmina
Don Henderson Baker
Jensen
Neva Howell
Neighbor
Brady Coleman
Anderson
Rick Forrester
Roper
Terrence Gibney
Basil Thorpe
Mark Jeffrey Miller
Vernon
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Reviews
r96sk
'October Sky' got me in the feels. I tend to (unintentionally) be a bit of a hardnose when it comes to fiction (even if a biopic) making an impact, but it does occasionally happen and this is one of those times. Weirdly too, because it is cheesy/cliché/whatever, but it worked tremendously for me.
I felt my heartstrings tug a fair number of times throughout, culminating with those lovely final few scenes; I was actually welling up, would you believe? Any longer and tears may have been shed *shudder*. I've basically only seen one movie this last month - what has the break done to me?!
Humour aside, I did love this though. I've said it before, but to be honest if you give me what I consider to be great cast performances then I'm practically sold on the film upon that coming to fruition. Jake Gyllenhaal is terrific (this still doesn't surpass 'Source Code', mind) as lead.
Chris Cooper is ace, as are Laura Dern and Natalie Canerday. Chris Owen (Sherminator!), Chad Lindberg (Jesse!) and William Lee Scott (eh... well, Roy Lee as of now!) are good supports to Gyllenhaal as well. Even the likes of Elya Baskin and Randy Stripling add needed small bits.
The music is good too, especially towards the end; early on it kinda goes with what I said about the flick being a tad cheesy and/or cliché. I would describe the movie as that to be frank, but that is more endearing than anything else. I'm fine with those things if it works, which it pleasantly does here.
Joe Johnston really went back-to-back with this and 'Jumanji'. Impressive!
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