The Right Stuff (1983) directed by Philip Kaufman Movie Review

One day, after seeing Interstellar (2014), First Man (2018), and Ad Astra (2019) in a row, I declared that space movies (except for Star Wars) weren't for me. My statement was proved wrong when I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) some months later, which remains today as my favorite movie. Watching The Right Stuff (1983) made me feel foolish all over again.

With its fast pace, stunning cinematography, and accompanying score, it's hard to believe that The Right Stuff was a box-office bomb; the only reason I can come up with is that it has a whopping running time of 193 minutes, but Gone with the Wind (1939) clearly contradicts that theory. The Right Stuff was especially refreshing for me because I had been watching many movies with famous stars such as Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. While they are skilled, sometimes it's hard for me to see them as characters instead of actors. The actors in The Right Stuff were unknown to me, making the movie more believable. I began to understand each character's personality and was hooked.

I had never heard of the film until I searched the Internet for epics, and it is deeply underrated. Following seven men part of the United States' space program, the movie is captivating as a drama, an adventure, and a tale about comradeship all at once. I would recommend it to everyone.