For example, it says that John (Homer Sr.) Hickam died in 1976, when in reality he died in 1989. It says that Elsie retired to Myrtle Beach in 1979 when in reality it was 1975 when she moved there. How come this info was never corrected before releasing the film? Does anyone know?
shareWtf???? How bizarre.
shareBecause films like this are 99% fiction, so pretending that some 'true' facts at the end alters this fact probably makes the film-makers uncomfortable. There are many pretend 'true' movies that have pretend information at the end explaining what later happens to the fake 'true' characters.
America has a long history of VERY VERY fake autobiographies/biographies that are spiced up in every way to make the people written about seem much more interesting than they actually are. American magazine 'journalism' continues this tradition with a class of award winning writers whose ONLY skill is taking a tiny kernel of truth from some real life situation, and spinning it into an elaborate fantasy that the readers of the magazine are told is factual.
Real life is rarely interesting. The kids in this film were shown simply replicating detailed instructions from 'Scientific America'- the real-life kids were enthusiasts NOT inventors, mathematicians or scientists. This is how MOST people who end up with careers in engineering or science begin as kids.
Winning at a science fair with a project that simply follows pre-printed instructions only happens IF your project is flavour of the month, which was the larger point of the film. Much better science projects would be over-looked, simply because they were not fashionable.
But 'October Sky' does what we expect from Hollywood- spins an excellent manipulative yarn. Only idiots think this film is superior because it is in any real sense 'true' in a remarkable way. The messages in the film are far more important- believing in yourself and taking a pride in your interests- as demonstrated by the hero, his Dad, the 'nerd' and the lady teacher.