Sika’s 100 Greatest Movies of All Time! 82. Apollo 13 (1995)

82. Apollo 13 [2 Disc DVD] (1995)

Plot: Based on the true story of the ill-fated 13th Apollo mission bound for the moon. Astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) were scheduled to fly Apollo 14, but are moved up to 13.

It’s 1970, and America have already achieved their lunar landing goal, so there’s little interest in this “routine” flight.. until that is, things go very wrong during the flight.

Also Starring: Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, Kathleen Quinlan, Clint Howard
Directed by: Ron Howard
Written by: Jim Lovell, Jeffrey Kluger (book)
William Broyles Jr., Al Reinert (screenplay)
Length: 140 min
Budget: $62,000,000 (estimated)
Gross Revenue: $334,100,000 (Worldwide)

Houston, we have a problem. (tagline)

Review: Tom Hanks has been quoted saying Kevin Bacon is “the best smelling actor in Hollywood”. And I guess he was thankful for it since they were stuck together in extremely close quarters while shooting this movie. He said it during an interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart so I guess it was meant as a joke, but I bet it made Bill Paxton run out to buy a new deodorant.

My Favorite Quote:
Jim Lovell: We just lost the moon.

This is a great movie; funny, dramatic and suspenseful. And full of that American/Hollywood proudness and “we are great patriotism” that often times makes me throw up in my mouth; but in this case I don’t mind it.

I think it’s because of Tom Hanks. He is such a likable guy; both on and off camera that he could get away with murder. So I guess a little cheesy Americanism isn’t a big deal.

Nerdiest Movie Trivia:
John Travolta turned down the part of Jim Lovell. Brad Pitt also turned down an offer to star in this film and chose, instead, to star in Se7en.

But he isn’t the only one great in this movie.

When you have a cast that also include Bacon, Paxton, Ed Harris (in a blonde wig), Gary Sinese, Kathleen Quinlan and they are all directed by Ron Howard (not in a blonde wig) it’s hard to fail.

And when you add a “based on a true story” to the mix it gets even better.

Oscar Count:
Two wins: Film Editing (Mike Hill, Daniel P. Hanley) Sound (Rick Dior, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan, David MacMillan)
7 Nominations: Supporting Actor (Ed Harris),  Supporting Actress (Kathleen Quinlan), Art Direction-Set Decoration (Michael Corenblith, Merideth Boswell), Visual Effects (Robert Legato, Michael Kanfer, Leslie Ekker, Matt Sweeney) Music, Score (James Horner), Best Picture (Brian Grazer) Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (William Broyles Jr., Al Reinert)

PREVIOUS ON THE LIST: 83. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1989)

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