Apollo 13 (1995)

Just two three-quarter-million-mile trips after the historic moon landing of Apollo 11, moon missions had become so "commonplace" that the networks refused to carry the weightless in-flight tour of the Apollo 13 -- until disaster struck and the whole world began watching, rapt in tension as well as hope and prayer for three astronauts' safe return. In the wake of Tom Hanks' edited and now iconic words "Houston, we have a problem" and against all odds, Ed Harris as Flight Director Gene Kranz (in an Oscar-nominated performance) exemplified NASA's (and America's) can-do attitude by professing, "I believe this will be our finest hour." Here is heroism that sticks, heroism without fantasy, heroism that counts -- when three men's lives were on the line a long way from home. The story of the astronauts' courage and the ground crew's ingenuity in a doomed situation is riveting, moving, and inspiring. I own Apollo 13 and will never get tired of watching this milestone in cinema, faithfully and painstakingly recreated with many trips in a weightless "vomit comet" airplane. Every person in the cast delivers a stupendous rendition, from each astronaut to every ground technician and family member. Apollo 13 is a labor of love and it shows. 5 stars.