October Sky

OCTOBER SKY [1999 / 2017] [Blu-ray] Based On An Extraordinary True Story! From the Producer of the film FIELDS OF DREAMS!Jake Gyllenhaal and Laura Dern star in ‘OCTOBER SKY,’ a touching and inspirational drama that's based on a true story. Working in the coal mines was an inescapable way of life in the small town of Coalwood, West Virginia in 1957. When high schooler Homer H. Hickam, Jr. [Jake Gyllenhaal] sees the Sputnik satellite in the night sky, he dares to break free of the mines and reach for the stars. With the support of his teacher Miss Riley [Laura Dern] and three friends, Homer Hickam, Jr. sets out on an inspiring quest to build his own rocket. Overcoming a poor education, a tough father John Hickam [Chris Cooper] and a series of misfires, Homer H. Hickam, Jr. turns his dreams into reality in this incredible true story of hope, determination and triumph.FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 1999 Ajijic International Film Festival: Win: OCIC Award for Joe Johnston. 2000 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Nominated: Best Action/Adventure/Thriller Film. 2000 American Cinema Foundation: Win: Best Feature Film. 2000 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Win: Best Family Film. 2000 Motion Picture Sound Editors: Nominated: Best Sound Editing for Dialogue & ADR for Elizabeth Kenton (supervising dialogue/adr editor), Howell Gibbens (supervising sound editor) and Stephanie Flack (dialogue editor). 2000 Writers Guild of America: Nominated: Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published for Lewis Colick. Most of the film was shot in rural East Tennessee, including Oliver Springs, Harriman and Kingston in Morgan and Roane County of the U.S. state of Tennessee.Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen, William Lee Scott, Chad Lindberg, Natalie Canerday, Scott Thomas, Randy Stripling, Chris Ellis, Elya Baskin, Courtney Cole-Fendley, David Dwyer, Terry Loughlin, Kaili Hollister, David Copeland, Don Henderson Baker, Tom Kagy, Donald Thorne, Justin Whitsett, Larry Rue, Neva Howell, Terry Nienhuis, Brady Coleman, Rick Forrester, Terrence Gibney, Douglas Swander, Keeli Hale Kimbro, Mark Jeffrey Miller, Blaque Fowler, Don Tilley, Rockford Davis, John Bennes, Jonathan Fawbush, Larry Black, Frank Schuler, Tommy Smeltzer, Charles Lawlor, Tom Turbiville, Ida Ginn, Richard Lumpkin, Mark W. Johnson, Don Taylor, Don G. Campbell, Liz Byler, Bradford Ryan Lund, Frank Hoyt Taylor, Dave Hager, Ray Elder, Andy Stahl, Joe Digaetano. Thomas Taylor, David Ducey, Jenny Patterson, O. Winston Link, Wren Barnes (uncredited), Ryder Davis (uncredited), Brian Edward Keith (uncredited) and Shawn Lindsay (uncredited)Director: Joe JohnstonProducers: Charles Gordon, Larry J. Franco, Marc Sternberg and Peter Cramer,Screenplay: Lewis Colick (screenplay) and Homer H. Hickam Jr. (book)Composer: Mark IshamCinematography: Fred Murphy A.S.C. (Director of Photography)Video Resolution: 1080p [Color by Deluxe]Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, Spanish: 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, French: 5.1 DTS Digital Surround and English: 2.0 Dolby Digital StereoSubtitles: English SDH, Spanish and FrenchRunning Time: 107 minutesRegion: All RegionsNumber of discs: 1Studio: Universal Studios Home EntertainmentAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘OCTOBER SKY’ [1999] is one of those definite potential sleeper types of film that is immensely entertaining and unabashedly inspirational fact-based drama about a mining-town teenager who leads his buddies through experiments with homemade rockets during the late 1950s. In the real world, Homer H. Hickam Jr. grew up to be a NASA engineer and the author of "Rocket Boys," the acclaimed memoir that inspired Lewis Colick's screenplay. Thanks to the efforts of a strong cast and the simplicity of director Joe Johnston's storytelling, ‘OCTOBER SKY’ is persuasive and compelling in equal measures.The year is 1957. As Sputnik parts the October sky over a humble West Virginia coal mining town, one idealistic teen Homer H. Hickam, Jr. hatches visions of sending his own rockets into space and a mere flight of fancy on the way to a preordained mining career? Not if this decent young man can win the science fair . . . and a ticket out of his hum drum and no hope life.‘OCTOBER SKY’ is based on the true story of how young Homer Hickam, Jr. and three fellow classmates beat the odds and inspired a myopic community to believe that dreams are worth chasing. It's stand-up-and-cheer fun. And it revisits an era when creativity, a thirst for knowledge and innocent boyhood exploration filled after-school hours, before youngsters were not influenced by VCRs, MTV, and other modern marvels with names abbreviated to match today’s youngsters shrinking attention spans.‘OCTOBER SKY’ emphasises inspired aspirations and rocket science. But equally central to the story is Homer H. Hickam, Jr.and his strained and often adversarial relationship with his coal miner dad, a chiselled company man with a noble streak that seems committed to everyone but his son. The elder John Homer Hickam, is set on seeing his son Homer H. Hickam, Jr. to blindly follow in his coal dust-covered footsteps and vocally opposes his Homer H. Hickam, Jr. total desire to pursue rocketry as anything more than a hobby.The main crux of the film comes when the battles commence, with Homer H. Hickam, Jr.wants to be a scientist and his father cannot and will not understand this situation. It's like Homer H. Hickam, Jr. saying he wants to be a Martian and so they constantly bump heads, and Homer H. Hickam, Jr. getting more and more frustrated because his father cannot see he has a dream that far outweighs the option of working down a dirty mine and ended with a shorter life span.There is no greater foe than Homer H. Hickam, Jr. father, John Homer Hickam [Chris Cooper], the mine foreman who expects the lad to follow in his footsteps. Much of the film's drama stems from the conflict between father and son. Chris Cooper, as usual, is excellent as a man who truly wants the best for his family but cannot understand the passion that drives the boy. The mine has been his life and the source of sustenance for his family. For John Homer to turn away from it, especially for something as silly as rockets, seems like a rejection of the father and all he has worked for.Young actor Jake Gyllenhaal is utterly natural as Homer H. Hickam, Jr., a young boy caught in a dream that perhaps even he cannot completely explain. You can believe he grew up in a place like Coalwood, West Virginia, which the filmmakers convincingly recreated in rural Tennessee. One look at the town and you can feel the coal dust pressing down upon your very soul, darkening your outlook and snuffing out your ambition. The character of John Homer Hickam, Homer’s stern father, is finely etched and complemented by an outstanding performance from Chris Cooper, who adds depth and pathos to what could have otherwise been a very typical stereotype character. The strained and fiery relationship between father and son provides the core of the story, and Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Cooper work well together, making their scenes believable, and making the eventual heart-warming outcome believable while avoiding the ever-present threat of over-sentimentality.The film never manages to transcend the formulaic elements inherent to its genre: resistance followed by hope giving way to disaster and then the rebirth of possibility, with a last-minute snag threatening everything, a tear-jerking moment and then final reconciliation and victory. But there is a reason why filmmakers keep going back to this type of scenario formula. When executed correctly, it has proven a total heart-warming crowd-pleaser. ‘OCTOBER SKY’ may lack the glamour and star-power of many a box-office bonanza, but the film's down-to-earth home grittiness is precisely what may make it hit home with audiences emotionally and it success’s gloriously and I loved the film when I first viewed and it still resonates with me after viewing it via this glorious Blu-ray disc.What I liked about the ending of the film, is finding out what really happened to the real life characters later on in life from the small town of Coalwood, West Virginia, and at the end of the film we get the following information, which is as follows: The “Rocket Boys” all graduated from college. Quentin is a chemical engineer in the oil industry. Roy lee is an automobile dealer and retired banker. O’Dell is a rancher and owner of an insurance company. Elsie Hickam retired to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1979, Freida J. Riley died of Hodgkin’s disease at the age of 31. John Home Hickam died of black lung disease in 1976. In 1965, the town of Coalwood, West Virginia was sold off and the mine was closed forever. Homer H. Hickam Jr. became a NASA engineer, training astronauts for Space Shuttle missions.OCTOBER SKY MUSIC TRACK LISTINGNINE POUND HAMMER IS TOO HEAVY [Performed by The Monroe Brothers]JAILHOUSE ROCK [Performed by Elvis Presley]THAT’LL BE THE DAY [Performed by Buddy Holly & The Crickets]SEARCHIN’ [Performed by The Coasters]LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL [Performed by Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee]AIN’T THAT A SHAME [Performed by Fats Domino]WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE [Performed by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers]MY PRAYER [Performed by The Platters]RED & BLACK / ON WISCONSIN [Performed by the Central High School Band, Knoxville, Tennessee]YAKETY YAK [Performed by The Coasters]SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES [Performed by The Platters]SPEEDO [Performed by The Cadillacs]IT’S ALL IN THE GAME [Performed by Tommy Edwards]Blu-ray Video Quality – Universal Studios Home Entertainment brings us this Blu-ray of ‘OCTOBER SKY’ that is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and delivers phenomenal results. Through its 1080p stunning transfer is rich detail in sharpness and colours that saturate this film with dark hues and settle smooth pallets only increase the satisfaction of your viewing experience. Universal does a wonderful job on this transfer and I have no complaints. Dark lush tones enrich the environment of this film with a dramatic feel with no scratches or hiccups during my viewing experience. Colours are very consistent throughout the film and if there was any small damage at all, it would be very unnoticeable. Universal Studios have not disappoint with their exclusive release from this very highly recommend this film.Blu-ray Audio Quality – Universal Studios Home Entertainment presents us with this Blu-ray disc with a stunning 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio experience that befits this brilliant film. The audio dialogue is very crisp and clear with no clicks or pops to be heard throughout the 108 minute length of this film. The sounds of rockets launching mixed in with the music by Mark Isham only adds to one of the best visual and audio experiences, plus whenever you get a terrific thunder storm, your rear speakers really makes you feel there is lightning going on outside the home and you really feel the amazing sound resonate with your body and feels totally realistic. The transition of high sounds mixed in with dialogue never had me reach for my remote to adjust the volume and gave a balanced experience throughout the film. Universal Studios hits another home run with this Blu-ray release.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Special Feature: AIMING HIGH: The Story of the Rocket Boys [2004] [480i] [1.33:1] [31:39] This special documentary is hosted by Homer H. Hickam Jr. and shot in what's left of Coalwood, West Virginia, the town was sold off after the mine was completely shut down. We get to see Homer H. Hickham Jr. chatting with most of the other “Rocket Boys” for reminiscences and "where are they now?" type information. The school principal depicted in the film gets to retract his original killjoy persona. The “Rocket Boys” inspirational teacher is lovingly eulogised, and the life-changing influence of a college education is well and truly lauded. The best footage comes from the vintage personal home-movies of young Homer H. Hickam Jr. and his friends firing off their rockets, as well as families, plus we get interspersed clips from the film. Homer H. Hickam Jr. also informs us that if they tried to build the same rockets today, it would cost around $25,000. At the end of this documentary, it informs us that through the success of Homer H. Hickam Jr.’s book “Rocket Boys” and the film ‘OCTOBER SKY,’ the former mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia, is beginning to see new life. This is really good stuff, very well spoken narration, and a terrific companion to the brilliant film. Contributions included Homer H. Hickham Jr., Jimmy “O’Dell” Carroll, Willy “Billy” Rose, Roy Lee Cooke, Red Carroll and Robert L. Turner.Special Feature: Spotlight on Location: ‘OCTOBER SKY’ [1999] [480i] [1.33:1] [10:30] With this special documentary, it concentrates on the Year 1957 when the Soviets launched their Sputnik satellite into space. Where a young student Homer H. Hickham Jr. from a small village in Coalwood, West Virginia, gets fascinated and is totally inspired by the progress of technology, especially by his teacher Miss Riley and decides to get to know everything about all the technical details on missiles and rockets and their propulsion. This is definitely like an extended promotional film, which includes some of the cast and crew, with interview snippets interspersed with some rare behind-the-scenes footage and some extract clips from the film. Contributions include Homer H. Hickam Jr., Joe Johnston [Director], Charles Gordon [Producer], Jake Gyllenhaal [Homer H. Hickam Jr.], Laura Dern [Miss Riley] and Chris Cooper [John Hickam].Theatrical Trailer [1999] [1080i] [1.37:1] [2:19] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘OCTOBER SKY.’ What a shame it was not presented in its original film aspect ratio, but despite this, it is still a brilliant presentation of a brilliant film.Feature Audio Commentary with Homer H. Hickam Jr.: Here we are introduced to Homer H. Hickam Jr. and informs us that he wrote the book “Rocket Boys,” which of course was based on the film ‘OCTOBER SKY’ which Homer really loved and especially the opening shots of the Coalview mine and especially with the miners coming out of the lift and said that people were very sceptical about viewing the film, but when they saw the miners they got very emotional and tried to hide their tears, and to a great extent this film is dedicated to especially those miners we see in the film, which a lot of them were retired miners from the Coalview mine and were happy to participate and a great honour to be in the film. Although Homer did not know anything about the actor Jake Gyllenhaal and was very glad he was chosen to play the part of Homer H. Hickam Jr., even though he had no choice in the matter. Although in the film they make out Homer H. Hickam Jr. is very interested in the Sputnik satellite, but Homer tells us he was interested in other things as well at the time, but when he finally saw the Sputnik fly over them in the night sky, it really captured his imagination and the scene you see in the film is pretty accurate, but informs us that at the times he nearly didn’t see the satellite fly over in the night sky, as he was very near sighted, as he wore very thick glasses. Homer talks about the strict principal in his school who heard about the “Rocket Boys” and accused them of being bomb makers and nearly confiscated their first rocket, but also tells us that he was desperate to get his scholarship and eventually wanted to work at NASA, but also praised his teacher Miss Riley who gave all the “Rocket Boys” great encouragement. Because with their early attempts at the rockets, they hadn’t figured out how to make the rocket go straight up into the sky, whereas their early attempts were very haphazard like in the film, where they were flying off in all different directions and that scene around the 32 minutes mark, where the ex-pilot gives them the clue on how to build a proper rocket, especially having to have the rocket made by very expensive metal, and because they had no money, O’Dell started to think up schemes to make the money required to buy the special metal and Homer tells us that O’Dell was always thinking up money making schemes that most of the time were a failure, but the one successful money making scheme we see in the film where they digging up the different parts of the old railway tracks, really worked and made lots of Dollars. When you see the steam train appear and where in the film they think it is going to crash, which I think is the funniest part of the film, but for some unknown reason this particular scene was shot 20 times until the director felt he had secured the shot he wanted. When we get to around the 39 minutes part of the film, where they all come to see the rocket launch, and where we see the ignition system up close, well this was built specially for the film by the special effects person, as in the real event scenario Homer informs us that it was a very basic launch mechanism and Home wished they had that special ignition set up when they actually did the rocket launch for real. When we see the actor Jake as Homer celebrating his birthday and open’s the large envelope with the signed autographed photo of Werner Von Braun, we find out that his actual Mum wrote to Werner Von Braun personally to ask for the signed photograph for his young son Homer. Also when you see his Mum throw the phone out of the house, this actually happened, because his Mum hated the mine and wanted her husband to quite the mines and retire to Myrtle Beach. When you see the actor Jake go down the mine, this actually happened to Homer who actually did some work down the mine in the school holidays. When you see the actress Mum show her injured actor husband the carbon crystals, these were the real ones that Homer’s Mum had kept all those years ago, who his real dad actually found down the mines, which were nearly like real diamonds, and told his real wife that he wished they had been real diamonds. When actor Jake is in the classroom after being accused of starting the forest fire with one of their rockets, and you see Jake show the stubborn belligerent principal the complicated equation on the blackboard proving it was not their rocket that started the forest fire, but Homer points out that this specific equation was pointed out later on was wrong, but forgives the anomaly, as it made for a good scene in the film. When Homer has his nozzle stolen at the Science Fair and you see the character Leon Bolden [Randy Stripling] offers to make a brand new nozzle, well Homer tells us that they actually had several master machinists who helped Homer in real life to make different parts for all of the rockets. When you see the actor Jake demonstrates how the nozzle works at the Science Fair, what words the actor Jake speaks is straight out of the “Rocket Boys” book and Jake had to learn the complicated wording 100% perfect. When you see the final firing of the largest rocket so far, named “Miss Riley,” which in fact was not called that with the real last rocket, but Homer wished in real life he had named that particular rocket after his inspirational teacher, and when we see the rocket fire into the stratosphere, Homer reckons it flew to an altitude of 31,000 feet, and after that event Homer finally got to go and work at NASA at the age of 38. When you view all of the personal home-movies at the end of the film, these were kept by Homer’s Mum and Homer is very proud to see them included in the Hollywood film. Homer also informs us that the town of Coalwood is now slowly coming back to life, especially because of the massive success his book “Rocket Boys,” which has generated a great deal of interest in Coalwood due to tourists flocking from around the world to see where the film was made, especially viewing all of the locations, especially the homes, so now they have established the Coalwood Restoration Committee to promote Colawood, and now Homer is very proud of where he grew up. So as the credits appear on the screen, Homer says, “This is Homer H. Hickam Jr., and I hope you have enjoyed my audio commentary, and comments, and I hope you enjoyed the film, and glad there is a lot of interest in the “Rocket Boys” book, and there are two more books coming out about Coalwood and about life there and I hope we can keep the miracle going.” Which I whole heartedly agree with Homer H. Hickam Jr., and a fitting tribute to a brilliant and fantastic audio commentary and one that should not be missed, and to me it would be a great honour to actually meet Homer H. Hickam Jr. in person and shake his hand to thank him for writing his book that inspired the absolutely brilliant and fantastic film ‘OCTOBER SKY.’Finally, ‘OCTOBER SKY’ is a totally moving, and inspirational story that offers superb performances and drama that earns its emotional moments and deserved awards. ‘OCTOBER SKY’ is also one of my all-time favourite film of all time. I am a sucker for dramas with true life characters, especially those that are based on true events. Performances in this film all around were totally phenomenal, as well as awesome and they couldn’t have done any better with the casting, as it is totally perfect. Any heartfelt film with a touching story gets my award every time. As without doubt I cannot praise Universal Studios enough with their release of this film, which I have been waiting nearly a decade for this Blu-ray release, as previously I originally had it on the inferior DVD release. This film is truly one of a kind and I am glad to now own this Blu-ray version in my collection. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film AficionadoLe Cinema ParadisoUnited Kingdom

Well acted coming-of-age story based on the life of Homer Kickam. If your kids are old enough to tolerate a few curse words and a grumpy father figure, this movie is a good watch with a positive message. It may even spark an interest in science :)

I really loved this movie. Jake Gyllenhaal, as the dutiful son to the tired, cranky fantastic Chris Cooper, keeps your attention on this true story of the 50's race for space. Laura Dern is Jake's kind and patient teacher who encourages his imagination and efforts to get out of their going nowhere coalminer town. Watching how the imagination of a dutiful high school boy who wants to be more than a coalminer and can't live up to his older brother's football status creates his own path around his father's strict discipline that curtailed many of his efforts. With his best friends, they spend their out of school hours experiencing the highs and dastardly failures that made up part of what brought the USA into the race for space. A very endearing and special slice of entertainment.

Really liked the move. It is a movie with a good message.

True story for the most part. Great actors and music and story!

A perfect period piece about a real person, Homer Hickam, who continues to inspire thousands and real events that still resonate in our human history. Homer not only went on to be an astronaut instructor, but an amazing writer. His continuing story of Coalwood in the late 1950s includes this book, "Rocket Boys" as well as "Sky of Stone" and "The Coalwood Way" - all highly recommended reading, as well has "Don't Blow Yourself Up". In 2024 a podcast was started about this movie which can be found at octoberskyminute.com

Read the book. As is usually the case, the book has far more detail than the movie is able to capture. Hickam's book emphasizes the tension between his parents, his sexual awakening in a small town in the late 50's and early 60's, and his at-times dysfunctional relationships with his father and (especially) his older brother. The book also captures the feel of an isolated small mining town (I'm speaking from personal experience here, having lived in one).In contrast, the movie emphasizes a bunch of kids playing with rockets. This is not meant as dismissive; the movie is genuinely entertaining, with believable characters acting in believable ways. At a time when Hollywood is churning out superhero comic book adventures, watching believable characters is a treat."Stand By Me meets The Right Stuff" captures the feel of this entertaining flick.

My students love this movie! I use it for Careers class.

C'est une très jolie histoire vraie, basée sur le combat d'un adolescent qui rêve de devenir astronaute et qui commence très tôt, avec quelques camarades de classe, à construire des fusées selon des principes qu'il améliore au fur et à mesure des essais. La relation entre le père mineur qui souhaite que son fils marche sur ses pas, et le fils sont difficiles mais au final, faire face aux choix d'un parent comme l'a fait cet adolescent, cela porte ses fruits et n'entâche en rien l'amour enfant-parent très remarquable. Je recommande!

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This is such an inspirational and aspirational film. Also despite the seemingly adult subject matters involved, the film was so well crafted that even my primary-aged children loved it and rated it 10/10. It is a true story apparently. Nothing is impossible. Reach for the stars. I believe all children should be given the chance to watch this. As an adult viewer I enjoyed it a lot as a film for its own sake too. Beautiful orchestral soundtrack as well. Pity it isn't well-known. Certainly deserves more notice.

„October Sky“ ist einer der wenigen Filme, die mich mit einem breiten Grinsen und einem richtig guten Gefühl zurückgelassen haben.Es geht um die wahre Geschichte des jungen Homer Hickam, der um jeden Preis eine Rakete bauen will. Der Sputnik ist Auslöser für seinen Traum.Homers Vater hat wiederum anderes im Sinn. Die Familie lebt in einer Stadt, die sich durch das Bergwerk über Wasser hält. Genau das ist der Punkt: Auch Homer soll im Bergwerk arbeiten. Einen Wissenschaftler als Sohn? Das kommt für seinen Vater gar nicht in Frage.Die Geschichte klingt nach einer Lebenstraum-Story, wo ein Elternteil sich dem Hauptprotagonisten in den Weg stellt – genau so eine Handlung ist das auch! Und ich liebe sie! Man kann den Film sehr gut mit „Das größte Spiel seines Lebens“ vergleichen, ebenfalls ein sehr inspirierender Film nach einer wahren Geschichte.„October Sky“ hat eine Erzählweise, die mich beinahe in eine andere Zeit, in eine andere Welt entführt hat. Der Film ist teils recht humorvoll, stellenweise aber auch total rührend und zu guter letzt – einfach faszinierend :-)Hier geht es um einen Lebenstraum, der verwirklicht werden will.Die Schauspieler sind durchweg grandios. Man nimmt JEDEM EINZELNEN die Rolle ab. Homer wird von Jake Gyllenhaal gespielt, der mir immer wieder zeigt, was für ein vielseitiger und guter Schauspieler er doch ist.Die Musik passt sich perfekt der Geschichte an. Die ganze Atmosphäre die der Film ausstrahlt ist trotz der Bergwerk-Stadt komplett positiv und schön.Warum fällt mir über dieses Meisterwerk so wenig ein zu schreiben? Vielleicht genau deshalb, weil es ein Meisterwerk ist?Ich lese gerade das Buch „Rocket Boys“, geschrieben von Homer selbst und ich bin von der genauen Schilderung seiner Heimatstadt schlichtweg begeistert, weil sie sich mit der Darstellung im Film total deckt. Ich mag das Buch jetzt schon ;-)Fazit meiner weniger informativen Rezension: Ein Juwel der Filmwelt, den man sich auf gar keinen Fall entgehen lassen sollte! Tolle Schauspieler, eine inspirierende Handlung und ein Gefühl am Ende des Filmes, was einfach gut tut!