After watching this movie, your life is better somehow! Chris Cooper is amazing. Intense masculine energy as Homer's father. This is a story of shame if you understand shame. Why can't Homer's dad simply accept that his son is different than him? What is his block as a man? This is very true to life stuff. We know the theory of Multiple-Intelligences today. Humility would have given his father this insight--the simple attitude that my son is hardwired differently and embrace his brilliance. His father should have been proud of him, but his shame was too powerful. He tried to conform his son in his own image, and a strong willed boy rebels against this. Life gives another "parent" figure (Homer's teacher) as a guide post. The shame Homer's father had is about his own father--pride is rooted somewhere in this story deep inside. Homer's father felt trapped in this mining career, and when he saw his son want to break free, he was gripped with his own fear of leaving; "I had to stay here, so you should as well!" "I didn't get the opportunity, so why should you!" "I had to suffer, so you should as well!" Few men are this aware of honest, but the message is clear.

If you liked the film Rudy, if Hoosiers made you stand up and cheer, you will love October Sky. Unlike the other two, October Sky is not a sports film. What all three films do have in common is well-told stories of people with dreams who struggle against the odds.The setting for October Sky is a small mining town in West Virginia. In October of 1957 the world learns that the Soviet-made satellite Sputnik has been successfully launched. It is at this point that high-school student Homer Hickam decides to learn all he can about rockets. What begins as a hobby soon becomes an obsession. With the aid of three of his friends, and the encouragement of one of his teachers, Homer learns how to build model rockets.As his passion for the subject develops, Homer senses a life-calling in the making. Unfortunately, Homer lives in one of those towns, where your vocation is determined at birth. Homer's father in particular believes his son is destined to make a living toiling in the coalmines, just like his father. This establishes the central tension in the film, and provides some opportunities for poignant interactions between father and son.This is not a new theme, and the film contains more than a few stock characters. We have already seen the high school teacher played by Laura Dern (think Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds or Barbara Hershey in Hoosiers. There is also the high-school principal as uncaring bureaucrat, and a chorus of townsfolk who, at first, remind Homer and the other rocket boys that they should accept their fate in life in the coalmines.In spite of the formulaic nature of the story, this story works. There are enough nuances added that the characters are, at the same time, familiar and new to us. There are no top box-office stars in the film, but there are solid performances by some excellent actors-especially Laura Dern, Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer, and Chris Cooper as Homer's dad.October Sky is based on a true story, and this is part of its power. The image of Homer shooting for the stars while his father dutifully toils in his subterranean world is rich in symbolism. Several years ago, while walking around a Hispanic community on the North side of Chicago, I saw a mural that said, "there are two things we need to give our children-roots and wings." October Sky is about finding that balance. In the beginning of the film, Homer's dad only sees the need for roots, while Homer's thoughts all turn toward flying. Watching the struggle unfold is a richly rewarding experience that the whole family can enjoy.

I am not someone who writes reviews about movies, but then this is my first experience as I couldn't stop myself writing about October Sky. This movie is very close to my heart as it touches every aspect of our lives – aspiration, family, friends and most of all hope. I guess I have now lost the count of me viewing of this movie and trust me every single time I watch it , my heart feels good and my eyes have tears.The most beautiful part of the movie is the father-son relationship. Like Homer, I have grown up watching my dad as my Hero and always wanted to be someone like him, but could never muster the courage to tell him what he means to me. The other thing I love about this movie is the persistence by which one should follow his heart. Watch it with your family and friends and celebrate life in the way it should be. Show it to your kids, for the values it carries. Sad we do not get to see such stuff these days. Rare gem that is not found these days.

"Where there is a will, there is a way". This movie is a beautiful illustration of this old saying. This movie was one of the best movies in 1999, as review aggregator, Rotten Tomatoes, reports that 90% out of 72 critics gave the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.6/10: "Rich in sweet sincerity, intelligence, and good old-fashioned inspirational drama, October Sky is a coming-of-age story with a heart to match its Hollywood craftsmanship. Also this movie won Critics' Choice Movie Awards for Best Family Film from the Broadcast Film Critics Association in 2000.It beautifully illustrates the biography of a teen Homer who is ambitious towards rocket science and ends up to be a scientist at NASA despite of all the mishappenings he faces in life. The story is a gem for the teens who are often led down by their dreams and dear ones. Full of emotions and zeal, the movie buys one a lot of encouragement to follow ones dreams.It proved very helpful to me and as it would be to all the people who have been facing a very hard time in life and not been able to do what they want to. The plot and the acting of the cast starring Chris Cooper, Jake Gyllenhaal, Laura Dern and Chris Owen is great and hence this movie easily and beautifully connects to people who got mind-stuck in teenage. As one would expect from Universal studios, the production house of the movie, the scenes combined with the acting is so real that it will take oneself back to the teen life of 1950's in America, which in itself is a wonderful experience. I would strongly recommend this movie to all the people reading this review.