October Sky

[capnzebbie]

When I got home from my errands today, my dad had just seen the movie October Sky. It's about a group of boys in the late 1950s who teach themselves rocket science in an effort to make their way out of their Virginia mining town. He was telling me all about it (he likes describing movies and books and things at great length), and I noticed that one of his eyes looked a bit damp. I figured it was allergies.

Then, as he got to the end of the movie, I noticed that both of his eyes were a bit damp. I said, "Wow, Dad, you're getting all choked up about this movie about engineers, aren't you?" And he laughed a little and said, "Yeah, I guess I am." (My dad is a retired engineer)

So I grinned and said, "Well, I guess I need to watch this movie. Engineers are my heroes, too." I was teasing, but it's kind of true. My favorite scene in the movie, Apollo 13 is the one where the guy comes into the room full engineers and says, "Gentlemen, we need to figure out a way to fit this (large square thing) into the slot for this (small cylindrical thing) using nothing but this (random assortment of stuff available on a stranded lunar module)." And they figure out a way to do it. I love that bit.

So anyway, I watched October Sky, and it was really great! Jake Gyllenhaal is the star and Chris Cooper plays his coal miner dad with whom he has a difficult relationship. And, bonus, an actress from Arkansas plays Jake's mother. It's a great movie, very interesting and exciting, with a very touching ending. Also, based on a true story.

Comments

[shattered.livejournal.com]

I love this film and how it maintains this wonderfully gentle and poignant quality to it. And count me in as another person who gets misty-eyed when watching it.

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

It really is a wonderful movie. And Chris Cooper does such a great job playing a complex character.