“Houston, we have a problem.” —Jim Lovell
Today’s quick review: Apollo 13. Following the success of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, NASA prepares to repeat the accomplishment with Apollo 13, crewed by astronauts Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), and Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). But when an oxygen tank malfunciton damages the spacecraft just shy of its destination, Mission Control, led by Gene Kranz (Ed Harris), must improvise a way to get the astronauts safely back to Earth.
Apollo 13 is a space drama based on a true story. Trapped in a damaged spacecraft with limited power, oxygen, and fuel, the crew of Apollo 13 must rely on their wits, their technical expertise, and the guidance of NASA’s engineers back on Earth to figure out a way home. Apollo 13 couples a compelling true story with an all-star cast and capable direction. The film offers a detailed look at the NASA space program and one of its most dramatic moments.
Most of Apollo 13’s appeal comes from the quality of its source material. The Apollo 13 mission is a natural drama: a unique life-or-death situation with ample amounts of ingenuity and heroism. The movie backs up this naturally interesting story with an even-handed presentation style that captures a wide range of themes and emotions, including the wonder of space travel, the personal toll of the disaster, and the waning support for the space program.
All in all, Apollo 13 is a robust movie that makes good on its promises. It doesn’t have the artificial thrills or tidy storytelling of a fictional adventure, but it does have lots of authenticity and the sheer quality of execution to back it up. How much you get out of it will depend on your taste in genres, but those with even a remote interest should give it a try. For an engineering-focused tale of survival in space, try The Martian or Gravity.
7.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for a moving story that’s told well.