October Sky

Based on the memoir Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam Jr., October Sky emerged as one of the most delightful sleepers of 1999--a small miracle of good ol' fashioned movie-making in the cynical, often numbingly trendy Hollywood of the late 20th century. Hickam's true story begins in 1957 with Russia's historic launch of the Sputnik satellite, and while Homer (played with smart idealism by Jake Gyllenhaal) sees Sputnik as his cue to pursue a fascination with rocketry, his father (Chris Cooper) epitomizes the admirable yet sternly stubborn working-man's ethic of the West Virginia coal miner, casting fear and disdain on Homer's pursuit of science while urging his "errant" son to carry on the family business--a spirit-killing profession that Homer has no intention of joining.

As directed by Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer), this wonderful movie is occasionally guilty of overstating its case and sacrificing subtlety for predictable melodrama. But more often the film's tone is just right, and the spirit of adventure and invention is infectiously conveyed through Gyllenhaal and his well-cast fellow rocketeers, whose many failures gradually lead to triumph on their makeshift backwoods launching pad. Capturing time and place with impeccable detail and superbly developed characters (including Laura Dern as an inspiring schoolteacher), October Sky is a family film for the ages, encouraging the highest potential of the human spirit while giving viewers a clear view of a bygone era when "the final frontier" beckoned to the explorer in all of us. --Jeff Shannon

Theatrical International release dates:
Europe: Dec 10, 99
Japan: Feb 26, 00
Australia: Oct 14, 99

Movie Details

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen, William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg, Natalie Canerday, Scott Miles, Randy Stripling, Chris Ellis, Elya Baskin, Courtney Cole-Fendley, David Dwyer, Terry Loughlin, Kailie Hollister, David Copeland, Don Henderson Baker, Tom Kagy, Donald Thorne, Justin Whitsett, Larry Rue, Neva Howell, Terry Nienhuis, Brady Coleman, Rick Forrester
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 108 minutes
DVD Aspect Ratios: 1.85:1

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DVD Features:

Available Subtitles: English

Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)

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International rating:

Europe: PG
Australia: PG

DVD International release dates:
North America: Jul 27, 99

VHS International release dates:
North America: Feb 15, 00