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Based on a book by Tom Wolfe, the history of aviation in America
is portrayed from the later forties, with the first breaking
of the sound barrier, through to the early space program.
A group of elite pilots are selected to train for the Mercury
project space race against the Russians, and put their lives
on the line for the pride of America...
Four
Academy Awards notwithstanding, whether you enjoy The Right
Stuff or not depends very much on who you are, or at least
where you are situated in the world. There is more than enough
to appreciate if you look in the right places. The filming
is undoubtedly top-notch stuff, and the presentation informs
you that the piggy bank was raided for a suitable budget.
But then you have the dialogue and overall feel of the thing.
In the entire history of film and TV, I don't think I've ever
come across such gung-ho, self-obsessed, shameless backslapping,
flag-waving, self-congratulatory Pepsi... I mean, patriotism.
Oh, the puerile over-sentimentality. It felt so false. Everyone
has the right to be patriotic, but this abuses the privilege.
I watched it with one eye on the sick bucket, just in case.
And, in the event the viewers might forget how they should
be feeling whilst watching The Right Stuff, the Bill
Conti music regularly crashes in over the top with its sickly,
overemotional feel good score. It made the many John Williams
contributions for Steven Spielberg sound harsh in comparison.
If I hadn't been so worried about further increasing my nausea,
I'd have stood up and saluted.
Why couldn't Philip Kaufman just get on with telling the story
without all the twee singing of its own praises? A country
or individual person is measured by his actions and achievements,
not his opinions of them. Here we have a veritable plethora
of screen stars: Fred Ward, fondly remembered for the low
budget gem, Tremors; Lance Henriksen, the android Bishop
in Aliens; Sam Shepard, Dennis Quaid, Scott Glenn -
all of whom struggle not to drown in their own heroism and
cheesy grins. Ed Harris, so good in James Cameron's The
Abyss, plays John Glenn, the all-American blue-eyed ex-marine
astronaut who can do no wrong. This he pulls off pretty well.
In fact, for me the best scene of the movie is the one where
his wife refuses an audience with the Vice President, and
is supported wholeheartedly by Glenn via long-distance telephone.
Don't
believe for one minute that I'm belittling the achievements
of the real men involved in these historic events. My argument
is that they were probably just doing the best they could
in difficult circumstances. In this film the script has the
space program and the media pour far too much syrup over the
story.
For anyone with a stronger stomach than mine, this DVD package
contains many extra features on a second disc, and must surely
win a couple of points for its eye-catching design and attention
to detail. You'll find included: a profile of the real John
Glenn; commentaries by Philip Kaufman and other cast and crew;
three documentaries; thirteen additional scenes; and an interactive
timeline with NASA footage.
Ty
Power
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