S picked out October Sky for us -- actually for me, since he had already seen it.It's the immediately-post-Sputnik true story of four high school boys, led by Homer Hickam, who take an interest in rocketry and eschew the traditional expectations of their small West Virginia mining town. Homer has to overcome personal and family difficulties and make some tough decisions, which change the course of his progress
It's well cast, including a very young Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer, Chris Cooper as his complicated father, and Laura Dern as the science teacher and only person who fully supports their academic efforts.
It's a simple movie, but a well-made and feel-good one. It shouldn't go without mention that the soundtrack is pretty good too!
The town of Coalwood, where Homer is from, began an annual October Sky Festival after the movie came out; it has since changed names to become the Rocket Boys Festival and moved to Beckley, WV. There is also still an October Sky Festival in Oliver Springs, TN, where many of the film's scenes were shot.
Bottom line: entirely enjoyable.
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