Rocket Science

Rocket Science DVD

I’m going to make ‘Rocket Science’ my first movie entry in this blog. After watching it, I immediately had the urge to see it again. That doesn’t happen too often. I get the feeling that this movie will continue to reveal its riches with repeated viewings, which is always the mark of a great movie to me.

Watching it a second time turned out to be a good move, because once I knew how the movie ended I was able to view the beginning with a different perspective. It’s worth mentioning that ‘Rocket Science’ is set up with more efficiency than usual and the first 15 minutes covers a lot of ground. Everything you learn will come into play and have meaning later. The viewer making tea during the movie’s opening act will not get much from seeing the remainder of the movie. This is as it should be.

‘Rocket Science’ is written and directed by Jeffrey Blitz, who also made the documentary, ‘Spellbound’. I think there’s a connection between these movies. They both deal with competition at a high school level, but ‘Rocket Science’ looks at it from the perspective of a kind soul who may not necessarily have been born with what it takes to rise to the top. With all the focus on trophy-bearers, what happens to those students who have the drive and intelligence but lack the physical gifts and the confidence it takes to succeed? This is a rare movie that dares to take that perspective.

I should mention that there are many movies that tread the path of ‘the underdog that overcomes impossible odds and succeeds’. We all like these stories. Some of them such as ‘The Karate Kid’ or ‘Rocky’ are certainly great movies, however this movie doesn’t tread that path in quite the way you’d expect. That takes true courage.

‘Rocket Science’ knows that life isn’t always victorious in grandstanding ways and that quieter, more personal victories are also possible.

A customer who returned this to the store recently mentioned that she was hoping for a more conventional outcome for this movie at first, but then remarked that it would then be just the same as every other movie and be wholly unremarkable. The way it actually turns out makes it distinctive and unique and it stays with you. Bravo! I think that says it perfectly.

Finally, the movie also features some truly excellent photographic compositions and some really noteworthy picture editing transitions as well. The drama is always understated and subtle and never burdens its viewer with mawkishness or sentimentality. Those are cheap, manipulative tricks and ‘Rocket Science’ is far better than that.

Did you enjoy ‘Rocket Science’? Please leave me a comment below and let me know what you think.