| Overlooked by the Academy Awards and most of | | | | As Homer's father becomes ill from the deadly |
| the movie viewing public, October Sky turned | | | | effects of coal dust, he pushes his son to |
| out to be one of the best movies of 1999. | | | | support the family by entering the mine. |
| Based on the true life story of Homer | | | | Unable to see the bright potential of his |
| Hickman, a coalminer's son inspired to learn | | | | son's interest in rockets, John Hickman |
| about rocketry following the launch of the | | | | (Chris Cooper) battles Homer every step of |
| Soviet satellite Sputnik, October Sky is more | | | | the way as he pursues his passion. But Homer |
| than just a film about rockets, it's a film | | | | remains committed, and when he and his |
| about one man overcoming the trials and | | | | friends begin launching rockets from a new |
| tribulations that attempt to run him down. | | | | site outside of town, more and more people |
| The emphasis placed on the passion of the | | | | begin showing up to see the brilliant |
| human spirit and its ability to overcome | | | | spectacle... When Homer's hero, German rocket |
| great conflict and achieve feats of wondrous | | | | scientist and NASA engineer Wernher von |
| heights makes October Sky a film that is | | | | Braun, replies to a letter Homer wrote, the |
| certain to enjoy an enduring legacy and a | | | | path is cleared for the students to exhibit |
| heightening in stature among critics with the | | | | their work at the National Science Awards. |
| passing of time... | | | | |
| | | | Encouraged by Miss Riley, Homer and his |
| Set in a 1950s West Virginia town, October | | | | friends are prepared to put their entire |
| Sky follows the life of Homer Hickman (Jake | | | | future on the line at this one exhibition, |
| Gyllenhaal), the teenage son of a coalminer | | | | where the prize includes fully paid |
| who pushes his son to follow in his | | | | scholarships to some of the top universities |
| footsteps. Growing up in a town where coal is | | | | in America... |
| king, the citizens of Homer's world can't | | | | |
| fathom pursuing a career in any other field. | | | | The inspiring tale of a boy and his friends |
| But when Homer's classroom is informed of the | | | | who never give up on believing in themselves, |
| Soviet launch of Sputnik, the satellite | | | | October Sky is a feel-good movie reminiscent |
| inspires Homer to learn everything he can | | | | of Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra. Outside of |
| about rockets, satellites, and inner-orbiting | | | | the traditional mold of action super-thriller |
| spacecraft. Goaded on by their teacher Frieda | | | | or blood-spilling reality drama, October Sky |
| Riley (Laura Dern), Homer and his friends | | | | bucks the trend of cinematic commercialism by |
| study the various aspects of a rocket launch | | | | offering its audience a more intelligent |
| and begin staging the launch of their own | | | | foray into the world of film and |
| homemade rockets. But their trial and error | | | | storytelling. This trend toward quality |
| experiments go awry, putting the local | | | | cinematography is one we can only hope will |
| townspeople in the path of their errant | | | | continue. Sporting a colorful cast of |
| rocket launches, and they incur the wrath and | | | | characters rife with conflict and passion, |
| disdain of a community that views them as | | | | October Sky is a definite must-see film that |
| freaks and outcasts. | | | | you won't want to miss. |
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