The Right Stuff (1983)

Covering the years from 1947 to 1963, a look at the United States space program from Chuck Yeager (Sam Shepard) breaking the sound barrier to Gordon Cooper (Dennis Quaid) who was the last man to fly into space alone. Based on the non fiction book by Tom Wolfe and adapted for the screen and directed by Philip Kaufman (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS). Rather than giving us a "rah-rah" jingoistic movie, Kaufman looks at the space program with a cynical and humorous eye. The astronauts are treated like men, flaws and all, not like heroes. Yet Kaufman shows his admiration for their spirit and daring in pushing the envelope and going where few dared to go. The film was a box office flop but it was critically well received (8 Oscar nominations, winning 4) and posterity has given it the respect it deserves. There are some great moments of beauty such as John Glen's (Ed Harris) orbit around the earth. As with most fact based films, artistic license is taken and there are many moments in the film that never happened or are inaccurately portrayed. Unusual for a testosterone driven film, the wives of the astronauts are given some attention allowing for some fine performances, particularly Veronica Cartwright as Betty Grissom. Inexplicably, Bill Conti's generic score won an Oscar. The excellent ensemble cast include Barbara Hershey, Scott Glenn, Fred Ward, Kim Stanley, Scott Wilson, Pamela Reed, Jeff Goldblum, Donald Moffat, John Dehner and Kathy Baker.