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.
The movie is a bit like Rudy with him being from a small town who works in a coal mine instead of a steel mill and wanting to go to college and the father son relationship.
Homer Hickam went on to become a NASA Engineer who trained astronauts on space missions. There are some cinematic liberties taken like turning 6 guys into 4 by combining two of them into one and eliminating another and so on. Not sure if his exhibit was stolen in real life but it looked a bit filmy with the father stopping the mine strike to help his son and all.
Best part of the movie were the home movie clips of the real people shown at the end.
Jake Gyllenhaal was very good as Homer Hickam. Chris Cooper was excellent as the father who wants his son to work in the coal mines just like him. Natalie Canerday was good as the mother. Chris Owen was very good as Quentin. William Lee Scott was good as Roy and Chad Lindberg was good as Sherman. Laura Dern was good as Miss Riley in a small role.
October Sky is a excellent movie which is very inspiring. The movie needs to be shown in science classes in schools to inspire kids.
Highly Recommended
Tags: Chris Cooper dern Jake Gyllenhaal October Sky
