October Sky (1999)

The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writers:

Homer H. Hickam Jr. (book), Lewis Colick (screenplay)

Stars:

Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern

4 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Homer Hickam
Chris Cooper	...	John Hickam
Laura Dern	...	Miss Riley
Chris Owen	...	Quentin
William Lee Scott	...	Roy Lee
Chad Lindberg	...	O'Dell
Natalie Canerday	...	Elsie Hickam
Scott Thomas	...	Jim Hickam (as Scott Miles)
Randy Stripling	...	Leon Bolden
Chris Ellis	...	Principal Turner
Elya Baskin	...	Ike Bykovsky
Courtney Cole-Fendley	...	Dorothy Platt (as Courtney Fendley)
David Dwyer	...	Jake Mosby
Terry Loughlin	...	Mr. Dantzler
Kaili Hollister	...	Valentine Carmina

Storyline

In a 1950's mining town called Coalwood, Homer Hickam is a kid with only one future in sight, to work in the local coal mine like his father. 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 and the local nerd, 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. Only one teacher 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.

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Plot Keywords:

school gymnasium | principal | police officer | watching tv | lens flare | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes one dream is enough to light up the whole sky.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language, brief teen sensuality and alcohol use, and for some thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rocket Boys

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,905,250, 21 February 1999

Gross USA:

$32,570,685

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$34,698,685

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In actuality, Homer H. Hickam Jr. and the other Rocket Boys did not steal the railroad lines to finance their rockets.

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Goofs

After getting in a fight with O'Dell, Homer walks alone towards Snakeroot with nothing in his hands. In the next shot he is holding a bunch of boxes.

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Quotes

Homer: [jumps into Roy Lee's car to go to football tryouts] Let's go, Roy Lee! It's almost nine.
Roy Lee: You sure are in a hurry to get yourself killed, huh, kid?
O'Dell: There are easier ways to commit suicide, Homer.
Homer: Would you just step on it, Roy Lee?
Roy Lee: [frustrated with his car] I *am* stepping on it.

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Crazy Credits

The real life people portrayed in the movie are shown during the end credits.

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Connections

References Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)

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Soundtracks

That'll Be the Day
Written by Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly
Performed by Buddy Holly & The Crickets

User Reviews

A real piece of Americana, not for cynics!

This is a gem, a real piece of Americana for all that this implies. If you are self programed to resist "life-afirming" stories, just stay away and leave the pleasure to the rest of us who still believe. And what makes the frosting on the cake truly delectable is that it is fact based on a real rags to riches story, no need to nit-pick what details were changed to make a compact story. Chris Cooper is one of the greatest living actors, and the complex, self-conflicted, bottom-line good at the core father he portrayed could only be pulled off successfully by someone with his skill and insight. The simple minded comments, refusing to accept a father who tries to lay down the law all the while sensing that he may possibly be off-track, expose the limitation of the commentator, not the writers or the acting. This is not for the cynical, or the simple minded.