One of the highlights of Peter Hyams' inconsistent career, "Capricorn One" presents an irresistible "what if?" scenario. The film opens with NASA on the ropes against the bean counters, and the agency can't afford to send the crew of the first manned spaceflight to Mars. So they stash the crew (Brolin, Waterston and Simpson) on a soundstage (dressed to look like Mars), and send the rocket into space. But things go south, the rocket burns up on reentry, and NASA is left with three astronauts who are supposed to be dead. The ensuing nasty cover-up sends our heroes into the desert, as they flee the conspirators.
Aside from the intriguing story idea and the prospect of a thrilling Goldsmith score (and he does not disappoint), I can't say I was expecting much with "Capricorn One". But what's surprising about this film is that is delivers thrills and surprises beyond its novel premise. The dual stories of the three hunted astronauts and the 2nd-rate reporter uncovering the story (Elliott Gould) gives speed to a movie that might otherwise feel sluggish. And the three spacemen prove to be engaging protagonists (even O.J. Simpson seems up to the task). Even the supporting cast is rock solid, including Hal Holbrook, Telly Savalas (in a hilarious bit part) and David Huddleston.
It's interesting that the film's bad guy was motivated by keeping the optimism and sense of progress that NASA represents alive in a time of cynicism and malaise. This was in 1977, when a little movie called "Star Wars" managed to distract America from that same cynicism and overall downbeat feelings of the decade. That morose attitude was very real back then, and it's just a funny little quirk that the misguided actions of the movie's antagonist reflect what that blockbuster actually succeeded in doing. I draw no correlation between the two beyond that. It's just amusing.
7/10
Aside from the intriguing story idea and the prospect of a thrilling Goldsmith score (and he does not disappoint), I can't say I was expecting much with "Capricorn One". But what's surprising about this film is that is delivers thrills and surprises beyond its novel premise. The dual stories of the three hunted astronauts and the 2nd-rate reporter uncovering the story (Elliott Gould) gives speed to a movie that might otherwise feel sluggish. And the three spacemen prove to be engaging protagonists (even O.J. Simpson seems up to the task). Even the supporting cast is rock solid, including Hal Holbrook, Telly Savalas (in a hilarious bit part) and David Huddleston.
It's interesting that the film's bad guy was motivated by keeping the optimism and sense of progress that NASA represents alive in a time of cynicism and malaise. This was in 1977, when a little movie called "Star Wars" managed to distract America from that same cynicism and overall downbeat feelings of the decade. That morose attitude was very real back then, and it's just a funny little quirk that the misguided actions of the movie's antagonist reflect what that blockbuster actually succeeded in doing. I draw no correlation between the two beyond that. It's just amusing.
7/10