Review of The Right Stuff (1983) by Jennifer A — 09 Oct 2009

Director Philip Kaufman does everything right in this space race drama.

The Right Stuff (1983) - 8.3/10.

Director - Philip Kaufman.

Starring - Ed Harris, Sam Shepherd, Dennis Quaid, Scott Glenn, Barbara Hershey, Fred Ward, Kim Stanley, Lance Henriksen, Pamela Reed, Veronica Cartwright, Scott Paulin, Charles Frank, Scott Wilson, Kathy Baker, Jeff Goldblum, Harry Shearer, Donald Moffat.

"The Right Stuff" chronicles the early years of the space program. The film begins in a remote California desert, the home of an obscure Air Force base. Here American pilots are attempting to break the sound barrier. One in four die trying. Chuck Yeager (Sam Shepherd) is the first to do so successfully. This, along with advances in the Russian space program, help jumpstart the American space program. Two recruiters (Jeff Goldblum and Harry Shearer) show up at the base (and other places) to begin looking for candidates. Over 50 candidates are put through rigorous physical and psychological testing before seven are selected for the inagural Mercury space program. The seven men include John Glenn (Ed Harris), Alan Shepard (Scott Glenn), Gus Grissom (Fred Ward), Gordon Cooper (Dennis Quaid), Wally Schirra (Lance Henriksen), Deke Slayton (Scott Paulin) and Scott Carpenter (Charles Frank).

This epic drama chronicles 15 years and clocks in at over three hours but it never drags thanks to Kaufman's inventive direction and sharp script. Although always informative, Kaufman doesn't let the film become dragged down by it's own historical self-importance. He injects plenty of humor into the film which always keeps it fresh. Some of the funnier examples include the man vs. monkey montage, Alan Shepard needing to urinate while he awaits for his mission to begin, and Vice President Lyndon Johnson's frustration when John Glenn's wife refuses to speak to him. And Kaufman makes sure his characters are not one-dimensional. Yes they deservedly recieve the hero treatment but he shows they are human too; showing their faults and desires. Kaufman also shows the anxiety and frustration of the astronaut's wives.

The cinematography is quite good as well, whether showing the gorgeous desert sunsets or the claustrophic confines of the space capsule. The film is sharply edited too, in fact this film won several technical awards. The acting is superb as well. Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Sam Shepherd, Dennis Quaid and Barbara Hershey (as Yeager's wife) all shine.

"The Right Stuff" didn't fare very well at the box office upon it's initial release but it's a film that has grown in stature over the years and deservedly so. It's a strong film that truly captures the American spirit.