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CNN recently ran a feature where retired astronauts raved about some of their favorite space-themed movies. One section is dedicated to Apollo 13. Michael Massimino noted that the film “paid well deserved tribute to the dedicated men and women of Mission Control.” Chris Hadfield added, “It intensely dramatizes the urgent, high-stakes, life-or-death reality of spaceflight.” Perhaps the highest praise came from Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, who says the film “still makes me hold my breath” whenever she watches it.
Apollo 13 Is As Great as the Astronauts Say (and It’s Streaming Now)
It isn’t surprising to see that several NASA employees have a fondness for Apollo 13. The film commemorates one of the agency’s greatest accomplishments, as what could have been a tragedy turned into an inspiring example of people coming together. It’s a story that’s tailor-made for the big screen, and Howard was the perfect director to tell it. Through his classical filmmaking approach, he crafted Apollo 13 into a crowd-pleasing drama that still holds up all these years later. In particular, Howard excelled at staging the set pieces in space, fully immersing viewers in its scope. It’s easy to see why Apollo 13 has been re-released in IMAX.
Apollo 13 also benefits from a strong ensemble cast. Tom Hanks continued an impressive hot streak by being the perfect leading man for the film, fitting the part of Jim Lovell like a glove. His performance blends his everyman charisma with his star power, making the character come across as both relatable and authoritative. He has great chemistry with Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon, who play Lovell’s crewmates Fred Haise and Jack Swigert. During the scenes when the three are in the spacecraft together, they feel like a real team, working together to overcome the problems thrown their way. Ed Harris also gives one of his finest performances as team flight director Gene Kranz, who commands the viewer’s attention whenever he’s on screen.
