When the space shuttle Challenger blew up in 1986, it was the most shocking event in the history of American spaceflight. The deaths of seven astronauts, including the first teacher in space Christa McAuliffe, were watched live on television by millions of viewers. But what was more shocking was that the cause of the disaster might never be uncovered. The Challenger is the story of how Richard Feynman, one of America's most famous scientists, helped to discover the cause of a tragedy that stunned America.
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Reviews
Waste of time
Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama
On the surface, this movie should have been a great one. Here we have a great true story, involving a relentless search for truth, a government agency cover-up, a secret confidential source, and a tragedy that shook the nation. Coupled with a hero in the charismatic, eccentric and brilliant Richard Feynman, this could easily have been as good or better than say "Spotlight", or any other great movie of that genre. Yet, this movie, although OK, somehow misses. It's not great, has no great powerful moments, nor particularly funny or self deprecating. Something to watch when nothing else is on and no more.Some of the blame must go to the portrayal of the main character, on which the entire story revolves - prof. Richard Feynman. One of the greatest physicists in history, with a crazy rich past and eccentricities that are legendary, and he is simply boring! It is clear to me that neither William hurt who plays him, nor the director has bothered to watch any of his many televised lectures ind interviews. First of all - the famous Brooklyn accent. Than the constant cocky smile and sharp humor. The many anecdotes and metaphors that are often his way of explaining. Non of it are present here. If it were up to me Alan Alda would play him as he is both sorta looks like him and is funny, serious and can do a great accent. Also the constant emphasis on his illness is over the top and distracting.About the only really good thing I can attribute to this film is it's uncharacteristic accuracy. I didn't notice any factual errors, and that is rare in Hollywood.In summation, this is a mediocre movie, that with a better cast and writing staff could have been a great one. Too bad!
i remember what I was doing when the Challenger blew up,, I was eating breakfast laying in bed,, home for school.. first time we got off for MLK day,, back when it was a federally mandated holiday,, William Hurt did an awesome job with this,, very good acting,, totally credible,, it was amazing to see just how much of a cover up there really was going on at NASA,,after all those accidents there for awhile,, people were saying that NASA stood for not another shuttle accident.. I know it's cruel,, but there was more than just that accident... also the company that NASA dealt with Morton Tyicol I believe they too were at fault and tried to cover the whole thing up,,, I enjoyed the movie very much, as was glad to see that the Challenger Disaster was finally put to the screen.
28 years ago the USA faced another test of openness and truth during the aftermath of the Challenger explosion. Richard Feynman uncovered the truth and is one of my heroes. My colleagues and I knew of his commission findings at the time and greatly appreciated his presentation at the open hearings. He had continued along the path of scientific analysis, and even after getting sidetracked with a wrong assumption (turbine blade micro-cracks), he stubbornly persisted to find the true cause of the failure (booster O-ring inelasticity). As a professional engineer involved with safety in the chemical industry and cryogenics, I was glad that an definitive cause of this disaster was made public so it would not happen again. I believe this story/movie can show viewers the need to be open and truthful and the foolishness of deception. Feynman's brilliant scientific "cold O-ring test" and explanation is an example for all engineers and scientists to follow.Don Finan P.E.
I remember where I was at work when the disaster happened, I've read everything there is, and early on knew.. so watching this apparently first airing of this sensitive event on UK TV tonight.Firstly, who was brave enough to do it.. BBC? I guess its time and the facts have been in the public eye for years. Yes, this seems to be a very accurate depiction of what must have happened as it happened. This TV airing has lasted an hour and a half.. not two hours, so what was dropped I wonder. Enough to make me want to buy a DVD if released? Maybe.William Hurt was so good as the knowing he was up against authority physics expert. One feels for him, and know the usual reactions of, oh no, what will he stir up. Everything about this 90 min version worked, I hope the 120 min version works too.