This movie is a real sleeper. It is a portraiture of an extremely significant time in America. We have people leading their everyday lives (in this case, in a coal mine), and the incredible threat that the Russians have created with Sputnik. Enter Homer Hickham who has been inspired. The whole town sees him as a nut. He gets some of his nerdy friends to help him realize his dream. it's a modest dream. To send a small rocket a fair distance into the sky. During this process he must deal with metals, heat properties, and mathematics. He also must face the dismay of his father, played by Chris Cooper (could have been an Academy Award), who expects Homer to naturally move into the world of the mine without a single thought. We all know what happens, but it doesn't matter. It's the wonderful series of failures and regrouping and, at one point, giving up that makes this movie. The people are real people. All Homer wants is a chance to get out this place and realize his dream. He has watched the football playing brother get all the attention. There's nothing for Homer. I could watch this movie over and over. It really works. It should have had a lot more attention.