The Bottom Line
Pros
- Compelling story of a young boy trying for a greater future.
- Phenomenal cast - Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern
- Physics portrayed well
Cons
- Some cheesy teenager dialogue
Description
- Director: Joe Johnston
Screenplay: Lewis Colick (based on Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr.) - Featuring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern
- DVD Special Features:
Commentary by Homer Hickam, Jr.
Aiming High: The Story of the Rocket Boys - Other DVD Features:
Spotlight on Location
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer
Guide Review - October Sky: Special Edition DVD
October Sky is based on the true story of a young Homer Hickam, Jr. (Gyllenhaal). A boy in a West Virginia mining town, Homer seemed destined to follow in his father's (Cooper) footsteps by working in the coal mine, like almost everyone else in town. Then, when the Russians launched Sputnik, he becomes interested in rocketry & Wernher Von Braun, with the help of a group of friends and an inspiring teacher (Dern).Homer's dreams of going to a national science fair (and winning a scholarship to get out of Coalwood) are thwarted when a rocketry mishap forces the "Rocket Boys" into retirement and then, shortly after, his father is injured during a mine rescue and Homer must work in the mines to support the family. (This most dramatic part of the film contains the most historical inaccuracies, which Hickam describes during his commentary on the DVD.)
Ultimately, this is a film about how hard work can pay off. Most of the boys are not the smartest kids in school, so in order to learn what they need for the rocketry to work they have to dedicate themselves to it that much harder. The acting is great, showing the mix of determination and sheer joy that infused this group as they explored the field of rocketry.
Hickam, in his commentary on the film, makes it clear where the director used dramatic license, and in most cases it's understandable. The documentary "Aiming High: The Story of the Rocket Boys" is also nice, showing some of the people and places depicted in the film.
