[9]
Ed Harris, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton star as the astronauts of 1970’s ill-fated Apollo 13 mission to the moon, one in which their vessel suffered an exploding oxygen tank that threatened to leave them stranded in space forever. Losing power, heat, oxygen, and water, the explorers were forced to abandon their dream of touching the moon and pray that NASA’s experts could find a way to bring them home again. But it would require a series of miracles and demonstrations of human excellence under distress — all of which director Ron Howard captures beautifully in Apollo 13.
Apollo 13 is a gripping and engrossing, plot-driven disaster movie, but the screenplay offers just enough character development to make us care about these people. But it also functions on an archetypal level, giving us a tale of survival and determination that should resonate in nearly every viewer. I, for one, cry at two different scenes every time I see Apollo 13 — once when the rocket blasts off into the atmosphere, and again when they splash down in the ocean at the end. I think it’s on that primal level that Apollo 13 strikes me most effectively. I feel overwhelming pride and awe that humankind was ever able to leave Earth, and I feel it again knowing we could overcome the odds, work together, and bring them home safely after disaster struck. It’s a powerful story for which Howard, cast, and crew do every justice.
Tom Hanks is cast to type as Commander Jim Lovell, a kind-hearted dreamer who remains cool under pressure. Much of the film’s emotional weight is carried by Kathleen Quinlan as his wife, Marilyn. Quinlan is terrified by the dangers of going into space, but has to be strong for their children and Hanks’ elderly mother (played with welcome humor by Ron Howard’s mom, Jean Speegle Howard). Quinlan is the audience here, embodying our anxiety, terror, and relief. The considerable supporting cast also includes Gary Sinise as an engineer who proves vital in the rescue efforts, and Ed Harris as NASA’s tenacious flight director who remained focused and optimistic even in the darkest hours.
The film does run a tad long, losing some tension in the third quarter, and one wishes we knew Paxton’s and Bacon’s characters, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert, a little better. But the period setting is captured beautifully in the sets and wardrobe, the visual effects are impressive, and when a film aspires to show the best of human endurance and determination, there’s no one better to capture that essence musically than James Horner, who features singer Annie Lennox for wordless vocal work in key moments of his inspiring score. Apollo 13 is a mightily uplifting film — one that I re-watch whenever life or the news gets me down. In the socially turbulent and painfully divided 2020s, it’s worth remembering that America was once capable of uniting to achieve truly great things.
With Miko Hughes, Tracy Reiner, Marc McClure, Xander Berkeley, Clint Howard, Gabriel Jarret, and Roger Corman.
Academy Awards: Best Sound, Film Editing
Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Supporting Actress (Quinlan), Supporting Actor (Harris), Adapted Screenplay, Art Direction, Visual Effects, Score