Apollo 13 (A or 4/4 stars)
'Apollo 13', directed by Ron Howard, tells a true story of the ill-fated moon-bound mission that ran into severe problems, & the men who rescued it with bravery, courage, & skill. 1961: the Apollo program was 1st announced. 1969: Neil Armstrong stepped out of Apollo 11 & touched down on the moon. 1970: nearly one year after that amazing touchdown, astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), & Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) were scheduled to fly Apollo 14 but were incidentally moved up to 13; a "routine" lunar mission. Once trained & aboard, the crew of '13' launched into the stratosphere. The launching had none of the fanfare of the 1969 trip because local networks opted show an episode of the popular 'I Dream of Jeannie' instead (haha). Little did the mission crew know that disaster was about to strike them; some 205,000 miles above Earth.
You see, a slight fault from inside the module would cause an explosion that crippled the floating vessel; causing Lovell to speak the now infamous words, "Houston, we have a problem". With a dwindling oxygen supply & little-to-no power, the television networks finally perked up their ears. While Lovell, Swigert, & Haise tried desperately to survive (and get their ship home in one piece), all of the world tracked their progress on TV; including Lovell's devoted wife (Kathleen Quinlan). And NASA's Mission Control, led by flight director Gene Kranz (a fantastic Ed Harris), & aided by fellow astronaut Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise), try to figure out a way - on the mainland - to get the crew home. But as time drudged on, & the prospects of a safe return started to fade, it became clear that everyone involved (directly or indirectly) would have to mentally, physically, & emotionally overcome the nearly insurmountable odds of rescue.
This is, hands down, my favorite motion picture of the year. I've enjoyed Ron Howard's films in the past (Parenthood, Far & Away), but this is his best effort. Everything about 'Apollo 13' is exceptional; directed with a clarity & attention to detail that kept me on the edge of my seat - even when I knew how everything turned out ahead of time. How the mission 'ends' is a historical fact, but I was enthralled throughout most of the proceedings anyway. It's rare that a film can do that; sustaining that high level of tension, & keeping us emotionally invested. At nearly 140 minutes, the film covers 3 main stories, & covers them wholly: 1) the astronaut's strife in space. 2) The controlled mayhem in the NASA Mission Control. And 3) the terrified families waiting helplessly in their living rooms; these scenes, in particular, include reel footage of Walter Cronkite relaying the latest breaking news on color TV. Spine-tingling stuff.
Hanks, Paxton, & Bacon are equally impressive as the courageous astronauts; I wish I could give an acting Oscar to all of them for a joined effort. Gary Sinise, as always, is solid as a rock; you really feel for him when he can't join the crew, & root for him when he tries to help from Mission Control. Kathleen Quinlan is great as Lovell's wife; representing every worried wife across America. And Ed Harris lends great intensity & focus as NASA coordinator Gene Kranz; a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. We live vicariously through his every action & response.
Ron Howard & co. have stuck to the facts (including a ton of intricate details pertaining to the story); which makes this movie all the more astounding. Now, the space scenes are based from Lovell's point of view (which may skew things, a bit); but I'm sure there's truth in it. The cinematography is stellar. The production design (in space, at NASA, & home in the 70's living rooms) is well-adorned. The sound & special effects lend greatly to the story, & do not detract whatsoever. And the editing is, perhaps, the film's greatest technical suit. I was riveted by each passing moment; dipping quite often into my popcorn (haha). 'Apollo 13' transported me to a time & place I'd never seen before. This isn't a flashy film. There's no deep meaning or deep character study. But it's very absorbing; the kind of movie you wish came out every week at the theaters. I can't think of a better compliment than that.
You see, a slight fault from inside the module would cause an explosion that crippled the floating vessel; causing Lovell to speak the now infamous words, "Houston, we have a problem". With a dwindling oxygen supply & little-to-no power, the television networks finally perked up their ears. While Lovell, Swigert, & Haise tried desperately to survive (and get their ship home in one piece), all of the world tracked their progress on TV; including Lovell's devoted wife (Kathleen Quinlan). And NASA's Mission Control, led by flight director Gene Kranz (a fantastic Ed Harris), & aided by fellow astronaut Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise), try to figure out a way - on the mainland - to get the crew home. But as time drudged on, & the prospects of a safe return started to fade, it became clear that everyone involved (directly or indirectly) would have to mentally, physically, & emotionally overcome the nearly insurmountable odds of rescue.
This is, hands down, my favorite motion picture of the year. I've enjoyed Ron Howard's films in the past (Parenthood, Far & Away), but this is his best effort. Everything about 'Apollo 13' is exceptional; directed with a clarity & attention to detail that kept me on the edge of my seat - even when I knew how everything turned out ahead of time. How the mission 'ends' is a historical fact, but I was enthralled throughout most of the proceedings anyway. It's rare that a film can do that; sustaining that high level of tension, & keeping us emotionally invested. At nearly 140 minutes, the film covers 3 main stories, & covers them wholly: 1) the astronaut's strife in space. 2) The controlled mayhem in the NASA Mission Control. And 3) the terrified families waiting helplessly in their living rooms; these scenes, in particular, include reel footage of Walter Cronkite relaying the latest breaking news on color TV. Spine-tingling stuff.
Hanks, Paxton, & Bacon are equally impressive as the courageous astronauts; I wish I could give an acting Oscar to all of them for a joined effort. Gary Sinise, as always, is solid as a rock; you really feel for him when he can't join the crew, & root for him when he tries to help from Mission Control. Kathleen Quinlan is great as Lovell's wife; representing every worried wife across America. And Ed Harris lends great intensity & focus as NASA coordinator Gene Kranz; a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. We live vicariously through his every action & response.
Ron Howard & co. have stuck to the facts (including a ton of intricate details pertaining to the story); which makes this movie all the more astounding. Now, the space scenes are based from Lovell's point of view (which may skew things, a bit); but I'm sure there's truth in it. The cinematography is stellar. The production design (in space, at NASA, & home in the 70's living rooms) is well-adorned. The sound & special effects lend greatly to the story, & do not detract whatsoever. And the editing is, perhaps, the film's greatest technical suit. I was riveted by each passing moment; dipping quite often into my popcorn (haha). 'Apollo 13' transported me to a time & place I'd never seen before. This isn't a flashy film. There's no deep meaning or deep character study. But it's very absorbing; the kind of movie you wish came out every week at the theaters. I can't think of a better compliment than that.