Apollo 13 (1995 US) Ron Howard directs this story about the successful failure of Nasa’s Apollo 13 starring a young Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon. I have learned in my time here on Earth not to travel with Tom Hanks. Hell he was even was pretty laid up by Covid IRL while filming in Australia. If he stayed home, him and his family would have been fine. I’m a big fan of Hanks, America’s Dad. I’m also a fan of Ron Howard and I think this was one of his best works. It’s what I call a reactionary film. What do I mean by that? Well you show me a dial on the console of the spacecraft. I don’t know what this means. So what do you do. Do you give me clunky exposition? No! that would be awful. You give me an actors response. I don’t need to know what that dial is but the actor can tell me if its good or bad. That keeps the pace going on track without bogging it down with too much technobabble. Star Trek I’m talking to you. Howard doesn’t shy away from it though which can be dry but then he mixes it up with more human sensibilities finding a really good balance where it doesn’t go too far in one direction. Howard is really good at finding shots and music that elicits an emotional reaction. So again a really nice balance.
I just love shows that feature the early days of space discovery. I am awed by the talent these brave human beings had. The Science Center in LA has the early Mercury crafts on display. NOPE! Not for me! It is so tiny and feels like it was steam powered. I would make a terrible astronaut. Besides soul crushing motion sickness my navigation skills suck.
Yay! We landed on the moon
We were supposed to land in Tokyo.
Potatoe Potato
You can find this film on Peacock or for rent on most streaming.