Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Clint Eastwood | ... | Frank Corvin | |
Tommy Lee Jones | ... | Hawk Hawkins | |
Donald Sutherland | ... | Jerry O'Neill | |
James Garner | ... | Tank Sullivan | |
James Cromwell | ... | Bob Gerson | |
Marcia Gay Harden | ... | Sara Holland | |
William Devane | ... | Eugene Davis | |
Loren Dean | ... | Ethan Glance | |
Courtney B. Vance | ... | Roger Hines | |
Barbara Babcock | ... | Barbara Corvin | |
Rade Serbedzija | ... | General Vostov (as Rade Sherbedgia) | |
Blair Brown | ... | Dr. Anne Caruthers | |
Jay Leno | ... | Jay Leno | |
Nils Allen Stewart | ... | Tiny | |
Deborah Jolly | ... | Cocktail Waitress |
When a Russian satellite orbiting the Earth starts to veer off course. It seems like the guidance system in the satellite is of American origin. It's important to try and fix it before it comes into the atmosphere. N.A.S.A. man, Bob Gerson (James Cromwell) tries to find out who designed it, and discovers that it was designed by Frank Corvin (Clint Eastwood), an Air Force pilot who, forty years ago, was part of a team who was originally suppose to go to space, but when N.A.S.A. was formed and Gerson's influence, they were dropped. Gerson asks Frank to help, but Frank still holds a grudge. But after some prodding, he agrees but only if he and his team can go there so he can fix it. Gerson reluctantly agrees, so Frank recruits his former team members, "Tank" Sullivan (James Garner), Jerry O'Neill (Donald Sutherland), and "Hawk" Hawkins (Tommy Lee Jones) to join him. After some strenuous tests, they're cleared. And they go up with two other astronauts and check out the satellite and ... Written by rcs0411@yahoo.com
We own this movie in our home collection and we haven't watched it in a while. Saw it again tonight on TV, and realized that it is still a good movie.
Clint Eastwood produces and directs this movie, and draws some "experienced" actors to help him fill the lead roles. They manage to extol the trials and tribulations of the senior years, while still capturing the exuberance of youth from the past.
the story leads a mildly predictable pattern, but in this case it is not the end of the story that is primarily important, but instead how they get there. Also, all 4 lead actors all come off as really having a good time in the movie, it feels like they really enjoyed making this one and it comes out on the screen in the performances.
The pace is even and smooth, again demonstrating Clint Eastwood's legacy of directing and acting in watchable, enjoyable movies, no matter what the gender.
I should also mention that the special effects and the space sequences are stunning and much better done than most other movies in near-earth space. That would be the industrial Light and Magic team doing it again.
Overall, enjoyable.