October Sky

Academy Award-nominee Jake Gyllenhaal is a teenaged boy who has but one future in sight: to work in the West Virginia coal mines with his father (Oscar-winner Chris Cooper). But, with the launching of the Sputnik satellite in 1957, Homer becomes determined to learn all he can about rockets. With the support of a teacher (Oscar-nominee Laura Dern) and hopes for a science fair college scholarship prize, Homer and his friends set out to build their own rocket against the wishes of the town's community. Rich characters, well-drawn performances, and an old-fashioned sense of can-do spirit make Oscar-winner Joe Johnston's film an endearing tribute to the American dream. Based on a true story.