So when you feel like your life is not stimulating you enough, give this a watch to feel inspired, present, courageous, and potentially braver.
October Sky (1999)
This movie is based on a memoir by Homer H. Hickam Jr., who came from a humble background and became a NASA engineer. This journey was against his father’s wishes and despite the mockery of those who believe reaching outer space is a rich man’s dream.
Homer was Jake Gyllenhaal’s first performance in a lead role. October Sky set the tone for his other powerful and motivational characters in Love & Other Drugs (2010) and Southpaw (2015), among many others.
The movie is for everyone who feels they are fighting a losing battle because of their origins. It is driven by, among other factors, the reticence of a pragmatic father who doesn’t want you to pursue your dreams. Hickam’s dad reasons that it is unlikely you can go from the dust and grime of a coal mine job to the rush of working with rockets. The core message that a “miner’s son need not be a miner” resonates with most people.
