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October Sky | Year: 1999 Classification: Drama Directed: - Joe Johnston Actors/Actresses: - Jake Gyllenhaal - Chris Cooper - Chad Lindberg - Lisa Kudrow An excellent book sometimes results in a great movie.... which can be surprising! Readers find that many of their favorite books translate poorly to the screen.... "October Sky", the screen version of Homer Hickam's autobiography, "Rocket Boys" is just the opposite. Joe Johnston directs a talented, and somewhat unknown cast in a beautifully paced, visually fulfilling film that yes, can be described as "heartwarming", without being maudlin or corny! Gifted actor/actress Chris Cooper and Laura Dern play pivotal, if small, roles in the coming of age tale of young Hickam, who developed his passion for space exploration in the Kennedy years, in West Virginia. Austere and poor, the town of Coalwood earns its livelihood from the danger and depression that surrounds the central employer, the coal mines. Getting out of Coalwood has only been accomplished by talented football players - Hickam is not! New find Jake Gyllenhaal, with extraordinary timing and quiet charisma, plays young Homer, with passion and humor. Surrounding him are believable young actors as his buddies, as they embark on the true story of discovering the hobby of rocketry, and use the hobby as a foundation for all their future hopes and dreams. Along the way, they bring the town to life and make believers out of many, including Cooper, as Homer's father. Gyllenhaal has had limited screen exposure, but many fans are awaiting his upcoming roles in summer movies, "Highway" and "The Bubble Boy". He demonstrates extraordinary range in his role as Homer Hickam. Almost unnoticed, but unique, in the film is his mother, from whom the real Homer must have inherited his dreams and his vision. A small town Mom in the 60's, she occupies her spare time by painting a mural in her kitchen! The special edition DVD has some excellent "making the movie" features, and the follow up spotlights on the real Homer and his family and friends are interesting and found on all versions. October Sky, although generally praised by the critics, did not reach a large audience in theaters. It's appeal, however, is for everyone. See it soon! October Sky October Sky, based on the autobiographical memoirs of Homer Hickam Jr, is a film that undoubtedly, in my opinion at least, as one of the best films ever made. Director Joe Johnston has done a superb job. The casting is perfect, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, and Laura Dern. Gyllenhaal portrays young Homer Hickam Jr, who, after witnessing the success of Russia's Sputnik operation, determines to pursue the art of building rockets, and along with three of his friends, starts wholeheartedly into the hobby. His father (Chris Cooper) a Virginia coal miner, shows disdain toward his son's wholehearted pursuit of rocket science as he tries to persuade him to join the coalmining business, which Homer has no intention of joining at all. His schoolteacher (Laura Dern, who does a much better job at acting than in Jurassic Park) highly inspires Homer and his friends in their rocketeering. In the midst of both encouragement and heavy odds, the four friends overcome discouragement and doubt . . . After seeing this film, I have put the book on which it is based on my reading list, and is a film very well worth purchasing. The plot is simply excellent as is the character development. The actors are very convincing in their roles. This is easily Joe Johnston's best film credit. I can wholeheartedly reccomend it to anyone. 5 stars. October Sky--The best feel good movie in 5 years... Here is a movie that the whole family can sit down to and really enjoy without any violence and any real bad language. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Homer Hickam, a teenager from Coalwood, West Virginia who sees the Soviet Satellite, Sputnik, pass over and decides to rebel against his father, a coal-miner, who believes that nothing else really matters except the coal mine. Homer and three of his buddies decide to build a rocket and enter the national science fair, with no real hopes of winning, and faced with the prospect that the four young men may have a date with the coal mine. What happens next is truly magical and incredible, and what makes this story all the better is the fact that it is based on a true story. An Insperation That Will Live In Your Heart When released in 1999 this little movie was a movie that i knew nothing about and i was not sure if i wanted to see it. Although on a saturday afternoon i decided to see it and was i glad because this movie is about Homer H. Hickam Jr living in a small town named coalwood in 1957 when the russians launched Sputnik. Since he is destined to work down in the mines like his father he tries to make it out of there. Homer is played by newcomer Jake Gyllenhaal in a stand out performance. Chris Cooper as the gung ho dad about mining coal in a particularly strong performance and Laura Dern as Ms Riley who encourages the boys to go for there dreams or they will be in the mines. Told with impeccable detail to the sets and the Photography it has the right look and feel to it. Directed by Joe Johnston who is know for such movies as The Rocketter is new and brings this movie to life. The end of the movie is very moving. Guarented you will go out loving this movie. This is one of the best films of 1999 and really deserves to be seen. Truly a movie that will live in your heart forever. Buy October Sky at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  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