From Christopher Nolan to Quentin Tarantino and every Coen brother in between, many of today's most popular directors got their start at the Sundance Film Festival. Here's a list of some of the biggest names to go from Sundance to Hollywood prominence.
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Title: October Sky (1999)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jake Gyllenhaal | ... | ||
| Chris Cooper | ... | ||
| Laura Dern | ... | ||
| Chris Owen | ... | ||
| William Lee Scott | ... | ||
| Chad Lindberg | ... | ||
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Natalie Canerday | ... | |
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Scott Thomas | ... |
Jim Hickam
(as Scott Miles)
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Randy Stripling | ... | |
| Chris Ellis | ... | ||
| Elya Baskin | ... | ||
| Courtney Cole-Fendley | ... |
Dorothy Platt
(as Courtney Fendley)
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David Dwyer | ... | |
| Terry Loughlin | ... | ||
| Kaili Hollister | ... | ||
In a 1950's mining town called Coalwood, Homer Hickam is a kid with only one future in sight, to work in the local coal mine like his father. However in October 1957, everything changes when the first artificial satellite, Sputnik goes into orbit. With that event, Homer becomes inspired to learn how to build rockets. With his friends and the local nerd, Homer sets to do just that by trial and a lot of error. Unfortunately, most of the town and especially Homer's father thinks that they are wasting their time. Only one teacher in the high school understands their efforts and lets them know that they could become contenders in the national science fair with college scholarships being the prize. Now the gang must learn to perfect their craft and overcome the many problems facing them as they shoot for the stars. Written by Kenneth Chisholm <[email protected]>
I have yet to read "The Rocket Boys", the book upon which this film is based, but this situation will not continue! I did read a short story by Hickam which was apparently the seed that started him on the novel. It grabbed me even then.
I am one of those fortunate enough to have lived adjacent to Cape Canaveral during the Mercury program, where my father worked, and this childhood situation no doubt fostered my lifelong interests and hobbies. I also met Werner von Braun, and one of the other German rocket scientists repaired a rubber band driven model plane I had (I WISH I still had that plane!) I mention this because I went into the movie with serious expectations and very much desired to see a film with authentic treatments for the nostalgia and emotions of the period.
I was not disappointed. While there were superficial flaws here and there, the movie came together like so few Hollywood films do. Good storytelling, authentic emotions and period atmosphere. As others have experienced at this excellent film, I was choked up at the end and had to wipe away the tears. The father of the family next to me asked to borrow my spare paper napkin to wipe his tears. About half the audience applauded at the end, and most everyone stayed through the credits. It's just one of those films.
Not the greatest movie ever made, but one of the best family movies in a long time.