“Apollo 13” is one of the most recognizable films of the 1990’s. Whether you saw this film in the movie theater, during a high school class, or every Sunday afternoon on cable, Ron Howard’s vision presents the complex science and drama of this fateful mission in a way that is relatable to audience members of every age. It is evidence that a family-friendly film can be critically acclaimed, win Oscars, support a complex plot, and engage our emotions while carrying a PG-rating. It boasts incredible acting performances and special effects that are on par with every other blockbuster of its time while remaining appropriate for everyone. I doubt that anybody has ever complained that Howard should have incorporated f-words and adult scenes into the story. It really makes me wish that there were more films out there like “Apollo 13.”
The key to this film’s success is the combined quality of the script and actors. Many space epics focus on visual effects but the core of this film is the dialogue. The script creates a variety of moments that range from educational and inspirational to heart wrenching. It feels so real because everything is focused around the candid accounts and actual transcripts of this mission. The writers often incorporate the exact dialogue of the astronauts into the script and other times rephrase the dialogue into memorable tag lines like “Failure is not an option” and “Houston, we have a problem.” This masterful screenplay is then brought to life by some of the most talented actors in Hollywood, (not just the biggest names, but the ones with the most talent). From Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton helplessly floating through space to Ed Harris, Gary Sinese, and Kathleen Quinlan trying to bring them back to Earth, a film would be lucky to have any one of these actors let alone all six! By the end of the film, they embody their characters so well that it is hard to picture any of these historical figures without the actor coming to mind. The film’s critical and commercial success is evidenced by its 9 Oscar nominations including Harris, Quinlan, Screenplay, Score, Art Direction, and Picture. It may seem odd that it lost the Visual Effects category to “Babe,” but it isn’t shocking in hindsight as that film revolutionized the use of CGI to enhance living things. Apollo did win the Sound and Editing categories and any other year, its effects (which still hold up nearly 25 years later) would have won. But history tells us that there is something more important than any award: the iconic moments of “Apollo 13” will forever be recognizable on the Hollywood landscape of past, present, and future.
[Pictured: In an age before CGI, these actors had to film these zero-gravity sequences on a plane in freefall. This sort of dedication is why we still love "Apollo 13" today]
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