Thursday, February 10, 2022

GOLDEN OLDIE 30: Apollo 13


 

This movie would be almost impossible to watch if you didn’t know in advance that everything would turn out okay.  Still, the gradually tension builds up to such a pitch you’d need my new kukri knife to chop through it.  It stars pretty much every male cinema stud of the time:  Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton.  Only Kevin Costner was missing: probably busy making baseball movies.  The female lead, Kathleen Quinlan, is excellent as Hanks’ fearful-yet-brave, long-suffering wife.  The director, Ron Howard, has a history of being associated with important films,  which this one undoubtedly is.  The critics liked it, as did the general public.  It got a slew of critical awards – but not the Best Picture Oscar, for which apparently wasn’t even nominated.  That same period saw Forest Gump, also featuring Hanks, dominate the scene.  But, awards or no awards, this is a darned good movie which you should see.  A-.

And who can forget the iconic understatement of all time:  Huston, we have a problem”?

1 comment:

  1. One of my favorites, too, Myrl. Remarkable work under pressure.

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