I remember watching Apollo 13 when it first came out at the cinema in 1995. Base on the real events of the unsuccessful moon mission in 1970, it would have been possible to hear a pin drop as the entire audience watched as the events unfolded - and this was even when we knew what happened.
For the purpose of this review I am going to assume that most people know the story of Apollo 13 - if you don't and you are likely to watch the film it's probably best to skip this synopsis!
The film is based on the Apollo 13 mission which was intended to be the third moon landing by US astronauts. The mission was led by Commander Jim Lovell (played by Tom hanks) who had already circled the moon on an earlier mission. His crew was meant to be Fred Haise (Bill Paton) and Ken Mattingly (Gary Sinise) but a threat of contracting the measles while in Space meant that Mattingly could not go and his place was taken by Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon). The film charts the preparations before the flight as well as the events that occurred on that ill fated mission. On the ground everything is coordinated by director Gene Kranz (Ed Harris) who's job it is to bring the crew home safely.
I don't pretend to understand all the technical
details but some things go dreadfully wrong with the spacecraft. This moment in time is immortalised by the words
Houston - we have a problem!
A landing on the moon becomes out of the question and everyone is focused on how they are going to possibly get the crew back alive. The work that goes on between all of the ground crew and Ken Mattingly (who never did get the measles) plays a major part in the thankfully successful rescue.
In my opinion this is a truly wonderful film which is even more memorable and moving because it is true. There is superb acting by all of the main cast and you can feel their sense of desperation and at times hopelessness as they battle to find ways of saving power and combatting the carbon dioxide emmissions.
I love the way that the action moves between the crew, the ground team and Lovell's wife Marilyn. She is played by Kathleen Quinlan in what I think is one of the best performances in the film. What she goes through as she is waiting for her husband to be brought home is unimaginable and all the extremes of emotions are wonderfully caught and depicted by her facial expressions. Every time I watch this film, I can't help crying alongside her when at last she knows her husband is safe.
Tom Hanks also gives his usual high calibre performance as Lovell. There is one very moving moment when, as part of their solution for getting home, they orbit the moon. He can hardly bring himself to look as he knows that this was his last chance and he will never set foot on that surface.
I also really enjoyed Ed Harris' performance as Gene Kranz. As the one charged with overall control of the operation, you also see his desperate need to do everything he can to save his colleagues. One of my favourite and most memorable quotes is when he says 'Failure is not an option!' It is such a courageous statement but also demonstrates the absolute strength of his commitment to save the men.
There is such a wonderful build up of tension in this film and because of this you really seem to live it all with them. I find myself so caught up in this film every time I watch it that I seem to go through every single possible emotion that I possibly can. Towards the end of the film we get to the point where the crew have to re enter the earth's atmosphere. We know that they will be out of radio contact for three minutes but beyond that we can only expect the worst.. As this happens, the camera switches between the three crew members experiencing a very rocky ride, the ground crew all suspended in time and activity just holding their breaths, Lovell's eldest son at school, and Marilyn Lovell's home, filled with friends and supporters who also can do nothing but wait. Very cleverly it feels like these few minutes are played in actual real time and they are about the longest three/ four minutes ever. Three minutes pass and there is no contact, then it gets to three and a half minutes and then four! Everyone's faces show that they fear the worst when all of a sudden there is at first an almost unheard crackle - it's Lovell on the radio and they're back. The contrast in emotions in those few minutes is huge and the joy and elation that you feel along with everyone in the film is unbelieveable!
I think this film is incredibly well made. I don't know enough about the true events to comment on historical accuracy but the combination of fantastic acting, great camera work (there are some truly wonderful shots of passing the moon), haunting and emotional background music and amazing build up of tension all contribute to its success. Emotions rage high in this film and it is that emotional experience that leaves you feeling both exhilirated and drained.
It's also worth noting that this film was directed by Ron Howard (Hasn't little Richie Cunningham in Happy Days come a long way?) He seems to have a wonderful eye as a director and I do tend to enjoy and look out for his films. As one of the DVD extras he gives his own very thoughtful commentary of the film and its events.
Another of the extras is a commentary by none other than Jim Lovell himself. It's quite amazing to see the man that the film is about talking about it and how he felt about those eventful days in 1970.
The other bonus material is Production notes and Cast and film makers notes but I did not find these very interesting.
So overall this is a truly wonderful film. As it says on the cover of the DVD
'it's a story of courage, faith and ingenuity that is all the more remarkable because it's true!'
I bought our DVD from Amazon for only £5.97 - amazing value!
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