Apollo 13 (1995)

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Jim Lovell (book) &
Jeffrey Kluger (book) ...

Release Date:

30 June 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History

Tagline:

Houston, we have a problem.

Plot:

True story of the moon-bound mission that developed severe trouble and the men that rescued it with skill and dedication.

Plot Keywords:

Space | Astronaut | Moon | Apollo 13 | Lunar Mission

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Jim Lovell
Bill Paxton	...	Fred Haise
Kevin Bacon	...	Jack Swigert
Gary Sinise	...	Ken Mattingly
Ed Harris	...	Gene Kranz
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Marilyn Lovell
Mary Kate Schellhardt	...	Barbara Lovell
Emily Ann Lloyd	...	Susan Lovell
Miko Hughes	...	Jeffrey Lovell
Max Elliott Slade	...	Jay Lovell
Jean Speegle Howard	...	Blanch Lovell
Tracy Reiner	...	Mary Haise
David Andrews	...	Pete Conrad
Michele Little	...	Jane Conrad (as Michelle Little)
Chris Ellis	...	Deke Slayton

Also Known As:

Apollo 13: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and emotional intensity.

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS | IMAX 6-Track (IMAX version)

Certification:

South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #33862)

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

According to Ed Harris, Gene Kranz's reaction to the astronauts living, which was sitting in a chair, almost overcome with emotion, was based off a documentary interview of Gene, who, while describing his feelings as the astronauts made it back, started to break down.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Deke Slayton pulls up to Lovell while he is near the crawler to tell him of Charlie Duke's measles, the trees in the background have no leaves. This would not be the case in Florida, especially in April. Additionally, there is steam coming from the car's exhaust, indicating cold temperatures. The weather is overcast. When Lovell is seen later in Slayton's office, presumably only minutes or hours later, the trees outside the window are covered with green leaves and the sun is out.

Quotes:

[watching the Apollo 11 landing on TV]
Pete Conrad: Jim, you think it's too late for him to abort?
Jim Lovell: No, he still has time to get outta there, he just needs someone to wave him off.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Phineas and Ferb: Out to Launch (#1.36)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

WAITING

Forget Armageddon and the laughable Pitch Black. Never mind Lost In Space and Mission to Mars. Even the great Men In Black is dismissable here. THIS is a space movie.

Probably one of the most significant things about Apollo 13 is the fact that it managed to be such a strikingly realistic film despite the abundance of well-known Hollywood actors. Tom Hanks, of course, can convincingly act any part in the world, and his role in Apollo 13 is no exception. All of the actors involved seemed to have been given parts that they were born to play, because they were so successful in the roles. The true events of the historic Apollo 13 mission are amazingly re-created here, and the results are spectacular.

Not only is this film wonderfully acted, it also presents a nearly flawless portrayal of the time period, even down to the slide rulers that were used to do calculations. The audience is literally taken back in time to the 1960's, and all of these universally exciting events are brought back to life, and this is one of the things that makes this movie so special. So many films try to do this, and the vast majority of them fail miserably, so it just feels so good to occasionally see it done right.

Another thing that was used in the perfect amount in Apollo 13 was the special effects. I am entirely against excessive special effects, because if they aren't justified in being in the film, they can sometimes ruin the film by themselves (remember The Perfect Storm?). The special effects in Apollo 13, however, served the film very well. Of course, the most significant special effect in the film, aside from the space scenes, was the zero gravity, which was done flawlessly. I'm just glad that they decided to go up in one of those Zero-G planes for these scenes, rather than have the actors drift lazily around and act as if they are in zero gravity, because that would have taken a lot away from the film.

Apollo 13 has an excellent story made even better by the fact that it is true, it has great acting, skillful direction, and plenty of tasteful humor. It is not only a highly entertaining film, but is also educational, which should please parents (as if they need any more pleasing than seeing their younger years brought back to life on the silver screen). Definite must-see, Apollo 13 is a contemporary classic.