Well here we are talking about that Joe Johnston film again. There seems to be a division on this movie. Right down the middle and I think I know why. I believe this to be a film for the non-cynical of us. The folks that smile when a Boy Scout walks a grandma across a street or that stops and buys those Girl Scout cookies. This seems to be one of them pure Americana films of hard work and determination. Now I haven't read the script, and to tell the truth I don't know much about this film, and that's the way I'll keep it till I see the film. However, from these two reviews there seems to be a fairly obvious line drawn. One person talks of HOOSIERS and the other speaks of Cliches and practicalities. And this is the sort of film you have to go into with wide eyes and innocence, the sort of film that will warm you if you're willing. But if you often turn a cold shoulder to Americana.... you might want to stay home. If dreams are not your cup of tea, then stick to the earl grey. At least that's what I take from these reviews. BTW the second one is spoiler filled!!!
The hubby and I just returned from a sneak preview showing of "October Sky" in Northeast Tennessee. The theater was about 80% full, with a good mixture of ages from little kids through senior citizens.
"October Sky" is a fine film, and the first one we've been to in a long time where the audience actually applauded during the film and at the end.
I know the film will have strong regional appeal here, as we are on the southern edge of the coalfields - but I hope it succeeds in other areas of the country as well. The studio is right - this film will be hard to market. (Hubby thought it compared to "Hoosiers" in feel.) We're going to do our best and recommend it to our friends, especially those who want to take their kids to a movie that for once has some intelligence and that they can enjoy as a family. As we went out afterwards, we started talking about building model rockets again.
Definitely a goosebump movie. You might want to bring some Kleenex, too, just in case.
Just sign us....
Mr. & Mrs. C.K. Dexter Haven
And here is the negative review....
How are you Harry? I love the site and since a local cinema decided to show a preview of October Sky, I figured I'd write. Long-time listener, first-time caller sort of situation. I think it's time to give a little back.
A little warning, there will be spoilers in this short review.
October Sky, release date: February 19
I had been anticipating this all day, all I knew was that it was about some guy who ended up working for the space program. I thought I'd like that so I went to this preview.
Plot: A lad, Homer, in a small mining town sees the Sputnik satellite in the sky and it defines his dreams for him. Alas, these are bigger dreams than becoming a miner like everyone else, and this makes his father, John, madder than hell.
My summary? This movie's $8 would have been best spent to buy crack.
The movie's sense of timing is sent to the wind. We are told of a national science fair, yet we are not given any sort of time frame, it isn't until Homer and his friends actually enter the fair do we realize it hasn't passed by months ago. The boys are arrested and restricted from their rocketry because a forest fire was started by a rocket found in the ashes, but when the mathematically prove they couldn't have started the fire, it seemed like an event that happened months ago and it didn't need to be resolved.
Not only that, the plot is riddled with cliche. Homer wanting to be a rocket scientist, but his father wants him to be a miner, and financial difficulties force Homer to go below ground to help pay for his father's medical costs after a mine accident. This rang of the ol' violinist who has to be a boxer plot. Except in October Sky, the boxer resolves some rehearsal time while in the ring. Homer figures out the forest fire issue while on lunch-break underground.
John never visits his son's test firings of rockets, even though the entire town does, but right there on the final firing of a rocket before they go their separate ways to college, here comes dad, and he even gets to push the button. Cliche and over-sentimentality. Groan.
I don't care if the movie is based on a "true story," it's first responsibility is to be a good movie and it fails terribly, in fact, the home movie footage in the "Where are they now?" was more interesting than the entire movie. In a Schindler's List way, they show the actual people from 8mm conversions.
The acting was strained, Laura Dern's "Unlucky Ones" speech felt tossed in there to give her character an attempt at the third dimension. Something's up with Homer's mother, but damned if we can tell what, except her dreams of Myrtle Beach and the love of her son. Huh? That's all I know.
It's not that the music was bad, but it was put in bad places. It was cued up like it would be for a movie-of-the-week. There are times the director, Joe Johnston, should have opted for silence. But maybe he's hoping that the music will cover the thin acting.
ILM did their usual top-notch work. For me the best effects are the ones you can't even tell are there. This was fantastic in this aspect.
Save your money, Harry. Wait until someone rents it for you, or until it comes on TV.
Call me Nyb.
