October Sky (1999)

Genre: Drama; Family; Biography

Studio: Universal Studios

Cast: Chris Cooper as John Hickam; Laura Dern as Miss Frieda Riley; Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer Hickam; Chris Owen as Quentin Wilson; William Lee Scott as Roy Lee Cook; Chad Lindberg as Sherman O'Dell; Natalie Canerday as Elsie Hickam; Scott Miles as Jim Hickam; R

Color

Langauge: English

Director: Joe Johnston; Joe Johnson

Producer: Larry Franco; Charles Gordon; Peter Cramer; Larry J. Franco

Writer: Lewis Colick; Homer H. Hickam Jr.

'October Sky' tells the coming-of-age story of a young man named Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) living in a West Virginia coal mining town during the 1950's. Upon seeing Sputnik in the sky after it's launch, Homer decides that he wishes to got to college to become a rocket scientist. With the help of his friends Quentin (Chris Owen), Roy Lee (William Lee Scott), and O'Dell (Chad Lindberg), Homer builds and designs his own rockets. His ambitions get him into trouble with his father (Chris Cooper) who wants Homer to become a coal miner like himself. Luckily, Homer is strongly supported by his high school science teacher Miss Riley (Laura Dern) who encourages him to enter the National Science Fair, so he can earn a scholarship to college and follow his dreams.

IMDb info for October Sky.