October Sky (1999)

In 1950's mining town called Coalwood, Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a kid with only one future in sight, to work in the local coalmine like his father (Chris Cooper). However in October 1957, everything changes when the first artificial satellite, Sputnik goes into orbit. With that event, Homer becomes inspired to learn how to build rockets. With his friends (William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg) and the local nerd (Chris Owen), 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. Hilarity ensues when only one teacher (Laura Dern) in the high school 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.

Trivia: The author wished the movie to be called "Rocket Boys," like the book it's based on, but the studio believed that title would not sell well. The compromise title "October Sky" works on two levels: it's the month when the hero is first inspired by Sputnik flying overhead, and it is an anagram of "Rocket Boys"! When the college recruiters approach Homer at the end of the science fair, the last one identifies himself as being from "Virginia Tech", the real life Homer Hickam's alma mater. Although known as Virginia Tech since the early 1990's, at the time the movie takes place, the university was known as VPI. Homer Hickam never actually met Wernher von Braun. Two of the real-life rocket boys, Sherman Siers and Jimmie O'Dell Carroll were combined into one character named Sherman O'Dell. Elsie claims that she'll move to Myrtle Beach after she leaves John. This was where the real Elsie moved after Homer Hickam Sr. (John) died of Black Lung Disease, and still currently resides.

When is was discovered that I had not seen October Sky, one of my sister-in-law Kara's favorite movie, she promptly invited me over to watch her copy. Thanks, Kara, it was a good movie. There were two themes in the movie, old and new, and above and below. First the old and new. John Hickam (the father) represents the old, Homer Hickam (the son) represents the new. They live in a town with an old industry, coal mining, and experience the new, Sputnik, and the rocket age. The town is slowly dying with the mining company. The older son is favored over the younger son in the Hickam family. The older principal vs. the young teacher. And now for the above and below theme. John Hickam works in the coal miners while Homer is looking to the stars. The fascinating thing is that Homer has to go below to be able to reach above, in this case, they put the rockets together in Homer's basement. Chris Cooper, a wonderful actor, also contributes to the above and below theme. Most of the movie he has an intense downcast look but finally, as the boys launch their last rocket and the first one he sees, he finally looks up and his face lights up. This is a very good very inspirational movie. Thanks again, Kara.