"Houston, we have a problem."

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2010)

Ron Howard's "Apollo 13" tells the true story of the ill-fated lunar mission of the same name from 1970. En route to the moon on a 'routine' mission the vessel is practically crippled by a mechanical malfunction. In short order the objective changes from landing on the moon to simply making it home safely.
Based on astronaut Jim Lovell's book "Lost Moon", the screenplay sticks pretty close to the facts. Certain tweaks were made for dramatic effect, of course, but the filmmakers strove for authenticity. I, for one, was surprised at how successfully the film built tension considering the fact that the outcome is known to any who are already familiar with the incident.
As for the cast, it's a good one. The lead, Tom Hanks, was fresh off of back-to-back Oscar-winning performances in "Philadelphia" & "Forrest Gump". Joining him as fellow astronauts were Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon & Gary Sinise. Quite an enviable line-up, in my estimation. While none of these individuals garnered Oscar nominations, Ed Harris & Kathleen Quinlan both received nominations in supporting roles. Overall, the cast was well-picked and without any weak links.
Ron Howard's underrated direction keeps the action flowing despite being anchored to only a few sets for the vast majority of the picture. Meanwhile, the Oscar-winning editing seamlessly integrates footage shot in simulated zero gravity with footage shot conventionally. The Oscar-nominated special effects are also both believable and attractive. Finally, James Horner's score effectively contributes to the mood of the piece.
Overall, "Apollo 13" is a captivating period piece that is constructed with technical know-how and skillful performances. While "The Right Stuff" is generally regarded as the top film based on the space program I'd take "Apollo 13" any day.