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Apollo 13 (1995)

Director:
Ron Howard

COUNTRY
USA

Genre
Drama

NORWEGIAN TITLE
Apollo 13

RUNNING TIME
140 minutes

Producer:
Brian Grazer
Screenwriters:
William Broyles Jr.
Al Reinert
Based on the book "Lost Moon" by:
Jim Lovell
Jeffrey Kluger


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
Jim Lovell Tom Hanks ½
Fred Haise Bill Paxton ½
Jack Swigert Kevin Bacon ½
Ken Mattingly Gary Sinise ½
Gene Kranz Ed Harris ½
Marilyn Lovell Kathleen Quinlan ½
Barbara Lovell Mary Kate Schellhardt -
Susan Lovell Emily Ann Lloyd -
Jeffrey Lovell Miko Hughes -
NASA Director Joe Spano -
Henry Hurt Xander Berkeley ½
Glynn Lunney Marc McClure -
Sy Liebergot - EECOM White Clint Howard ½
John Aaron - EECOM Arthur Loren Dean -
Jerry Bostick - FIDO White Ray McKinnon -
CAPCOM 1 Brett Cullen ½
Jeffrey Lovell Miko Hughes -

 

Review

Ron Howard's big-budget epic Apollo 13 is a celebration – almost deification – of NASA's early lunar travels. But hey, their achievements were among humanity's most remarkable, and certainly worth commemorating. There's no hiding Howard's nostalgia here, however, and while that creates a little distance to the human drama unfolding, it also gives the film a wonderful look and feel. It's almost as if you can smell the 1970s cigarette smoke, feel the wallpapers in the Lovells' house, and believe your own false memories (and cinematographer Dean Cundey's conception) of how every colour was warmer back then. This framework is the basis for Howard's storytelling, which is classically structured within the biopic formula, meaning that every element, from character presentation, build-up, bumps in the road and so on, are a little too neatly laid out for us. The picture does all the thinking for you. You just have to come along for the ride. But it's a fascinating ride which presents its technical aspects with aptitude and without insulting your intelligence. You may not be quite as emotionally invested as Howard would have hoped for, but he is certainly able to captivate with the story's intrinsic momentousness. The star-studded cast all do well, although this is not set up to be their parade. Based on Jim Lowell's own book "Lost Moon".

Re-reviewed: Copyright © 29.05.2021 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang
Original review: Copyright © 08.10.1997 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang