I finally saw the movie 'Ocotber Sky' over the weekend. It was a
wonderful experience that left me blubbering like a baby. I
highly recommend it, especially if you have 11-19 year old kids
who need some motivation, and maybe a real life hero or two.
[Some descriptions below, but no story spoilers]
As you might expect, the first brilliant thing I noticed was the
use of automobiles in the movie. The movie opens with the launch
of Sputnik in 1957, when people in the real-life town of Coalwood
are driving drab Fords, Chevys, and Dodges made just before and
after World War II. When I think of 1957 I think of the stylish '57
Chevy Belair convertibles . . . not these sad jalopies. I could
tell that Coalwood was already a fading relic, even when the WVa
coal mines were in their heyday.
The next thing that caught my eye was the surreal journey into
the coal mine, followed by interior scenes of the mine itself.
The miners ride an elevator deep into the Earth, but rather that
the elevator itself, October Sky's cinematography stresses
the dark doors opening and closing. The miners have electric TAG
lights on their helmets, and several scenes here are shot with
only the illumination from the miner's lights. This lighting
combined with the sad, bluegrassy music casts a gritty honesty
across the miners' work.
Of course I can't talk about October Sky without
mentioning rockets. The soaring, glorious scenes of rocket
launches are such a archtypical poetic contrast to the dark,
cramped coal mine that it seems like October Sky could
only be a work of fiction. Perhaps one real life story in a
million comes complete with perfect imagery. See for yourself,
then perhaps we can discuss with spoilers.
I give October Sky four doors up. \_/ \_/
