Blue Sky (1994)

Set in 1962, a nuclear engineer (Tommy Lee Jones) who is a Major in the army must deal with the pressures of his high stress job and the unstable emotional and mental health of his wife (Jessica Lange in an Oscar winning performance). Directed by Tony Richardson (TOM JONES) in his final film. Filmed in 1990, BLUE SKY wasn't released until 1994 (three years after Richardson's death) because of the bankruptcy of Orion pictures. It's far from Richardson's best work and I wish it were better but the movie is still good enough to stand on its own. But it's one of those films where a brilliant performance justifies the movie's existence. I'm talking about Lange's stunning work here. Evoking Marilyn Monroe without aping her, Lange is sensual, vulnerable and on the edge. I kept waiting for some false note to pop up but it never happened. She walked that tightrope without blinking! Tommy Lee Jones also does terrific work here. With Powers Boothe, Carrie Snodgress, Chris O'Donnell, Amy Locane, Mitchell Ryan and Annie Ross.