Apollo 13

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(out of 5)

Ron Howard’s best film as director is this gripping account of the failed Apollo 13 mission that thankfully never claimed the lives of its astronauts but threatened to on many occasions. Tom Hanks heads up the operation as Jim Lovell, an astronaut who loses out on Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 trip to the moon but finally gets his dream realized when he is assigned two missions later to travel into the outer reaches of space (Lovell’s book, Lost Moon, which he co-wrote with Jeffrey Kluger, was the basis of this film). During the mission, a malfunction occurs on their spacecraft and Lovell, along with colleagues Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon, are at the mercy of whatever the excellent support team on the ground below led by Ed Harris can figure out to keep them safe. Beautifully photographed, one is convinced when watching this film that the entire crew really did travel into outer space. The drama is rich, the characters moving and the sense of wonder is constantly kept at a high level.

USA, 1995

Directed by Ron Howard

Screenplay by William Broyles Jr., Al Reinert, based on the book Lost Moon by Jim Lovell, Jeffrey Kluger

Cinematography by Dean Cundey

Produced by Brian Grazer

Music by James Horner

Production Design by Michael Corenblith

Costume Design by Rita Ryack

Film Editing by Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill

Cast Tags:  Andrew Lipschultz, Andy Milder, Arthur Senzy, Austin O’Brien, Ben Bode, Ben Marley, Bill Paxton, Brett Cullen, Brian Markinson, Bruce Wright, Carl Gabriel Yorke, Chris Ellis, Christian Clemenson, Christopher John Fields, Clint Howard, David Andrews, Ed Harris, Emily Ann Lloyd, Endre Hules, Frank Cavestani, Gabriel Jarret, Gary Sinise, Geoffrey Blake, Googy Gress, Herbert Jefferson Jr., Ivan Allen, Jack Conley, James Ritz, Jane Jenkins, Jean Speegle Howard, Jim Meskimen, Joe Spano, John Dullaghan, John M. Mathews, John Short, John Wheeler, Jon Bruno, Joseph Culp, Julie Rowen, Karen Martin, Kathleen Quinlan, Kenneth White, Kevin Bacon, Larry Williams, Lee Anne Matusek, Loren Dean, Louisa Marie, Marc McClure, Mark D. Newman,Mark McKeel, Mark Wheeler, Mary Kate Schellhardt, Matthew Michael Goodall, Maureen Hanley, Max Elliott Slade, Max Grodénchik, Meadow Williams, Michele Little, Miko Hughes,Misty Dickinson, Ned Vaughn, Patrick Mickler, Patty Raya, Paul Mantee, Rance Howard, Ray McKinnon, Reed Rudy, Roger Corman, Ryan Holihan, Steve Bernie, Steve Rankin, Steve Ruge, Taylor Goodall, Thom Barry, Thomas Crawford, Todd Hallowell, Todd Louiso, Tom Hanks, Tom Wood, Tracy Reiner, Walter von Huene, Wayne Duvall, Xander Berkeley

Academy Awards
Best Film Editing (Mike Hill, Dan Hanley)
Best Sound (Rick Dior, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan, David MacMillan)

Nominations
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Ed Harris as “Gene Kranz”)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Kathleen Quinlan as “Marilyn Lovell”)
Best Art Direction (art direction: Michael Corenblith; set decoration: Merideth Boswell)
Best Music (Original Dramatic Score) (James Horner)
Best Picture (Brian Grazer, producer)
Best Visual Effects (Robert Legato, Michael Kanfer, Leslie Ekker, Matt Sweeney)
Best Writing (Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published) (William Broyles, Jr.,, Al Reinert)

Golden Globe Award Nominations
Best Motion Picture-Drama
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Kathleen Quinlan)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Ed Harris)
Best Director (Ron Howard)

National Board Of Review Award
Top Ten Films

Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Ed Harris)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Writers Guild Award Nomination
Best Adapted Screenplay

Directors Guild Award
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (Ron Howard)

British Academy Awards
Best Achievement in Special Effects
Best Production Design

Nominations
Best Cinematography
Best Sound
Best Editing