This could have been an OSCAR contender for sure, yet will be forgotten about by next year’s nominating committee, or by however they do it. (Ever notice how the majority of OSCAR picks are from films released within the few months prior? Coincidence, not likely.) OCTOBER SKY is pure enjoyment, with elements from STAND BY ME and AMERICAN GRAFFITI all mixed together, but yet so original on its own. It even choked me up a few times too. This will be one of those films that’ll be rediscovered every few years or so. It’ll never be a huge hit, but certainly one everyone will remember fondly, even if its box office receipts are not the highest.

      Strangely enough, I’m having trouble convincing people to see this, both friends and family. Believe me, I wouldn’t steer you wrong if I didn’t think that there was something of value here. The acting, direction and story line are all completely engaging. And the four leads are just fantastic and much better than I expected. Add to that great character actors like Chris Cooper, who plays the father, and you’ve got the perfect ensemble. I implore you, don’t let movies like this pass into obscurity. Considering the state of film now, it’s definitely not worth it. :-)