Beyond the Stars

Last updated
Beyond the Stars
Beyond the Stars DVD cover.jpg
Directed by David Saperstein
Written byDavid Saperstein
Produced by Joseph Perez
Starring Christian Slater
Martin Sheen
Sharon Stone
Olivia d'Abo
F. Murray Abraham
Cinematography John S. Bartley
Music by Geoff Levin
Chris Many
Distributed by Moviestore Entertainment
Release date
  • 1989 (1989)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Beyond the Stars is a 1989 American science-fiction drama film written and directed by David Saperstein [1] and starred Martin Sheen, Christian Slater, Sharon Stone, Olivia d'Abo, and F. Murray Abraham. The film was originally titled Personal Choice. [2] [3] It was never released in theaters.

Contents

Plot

Eric is the teenage son of a computer scientist who worked for the Apollo program, which sent the first humans to the Moon. Eric, determined to become an astronaut himself one day, befriends Paul Andrews, the thirteenth man on the Moon. Paul is avoided by other astronauts nowadays because he was very rude and distant when he returned from space. Eric slowly learns that during his excursion on the Moon Paul discovered something that he keeps as a secret.

Production

The movie was filmed in and around Huntsville, Alabama and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and outside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, during fall 1988 and under the title Personal Choice. [4] [5] [6]

The story was inspired by the life of Buzz Aldrin. [7]

The film was renamed Beyond the Stars, but was never released in theaters. Later it was shown on cable television and released on laser disk. [8] [6]

Cast

Reception

Beyond the Stars was noted for its ”interesting cast’. [9] [10] [11] It was presented as a "fair sci-fi effort, with good performances" by all members of the cast but with a "poor script". [12] The Canadian website Film Media was very critical of the film, stating: 'Verbose and sclerotic plot. Ungainly direction. Dull acting." [13]

Leonard Maltin described it as an "excruciatingly slow story of former astronaut". [14] According to Film Dienst, "The story of a friendship, told with partly successful observations, quite naively highlights the contradiction between idealistic discovery and the appropriation of technology by the military, but remains superficial in its humanitarian and ecological appeals." [15] The film received an extremely positive assessment in the French Nouveau Guide des Films, in which it was called "a top achievement of pantheist lyricism" and Stone's performance, highly praised. [16]

In his book Generation Multiplex: The Image of Youth in Contemporary American Cinema, Timothy Shary states that the lack of success of the film typically reflects the little interest of audiences of the time for youth using rational scientific principles. [17]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Face Behind the Mask</i> (1941 film) American film noir crime by Robert Florey

The Face Behind the Mask is a 1941 American film noir crime film directed by Robert Florey and starring Peter Lorre, Evelyn Keyes and Don Beddoe. The screenplay was adapted by Paul Jarrico, Arthur Levinson, and Allen Vincent from the play Interim, written by Thomas Edward O'Connell (1915–1961).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Maltin</span> American film critic and film historian (born 1950)

Leonard Michael Maltin is an American film critic, film historian, and author. He is known for his book of film capsule reviews, Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide, published annually from 1969 to 2014. Maltin was the film critic on Entertainment Tonight from 1982 to 2010. He currently teaches at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and hosts the weekly podcast Maltin on Movies. He served two terms as President of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and votes for films to be selected for the National Film Registry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Leonard</span> American musician, producer (born 1956)

Patrick Ray Leonard is an American songwriter, keyboardist, film composer, and music producer, best known for his longtime collaboration with Madonna. His work with Madonna includes her albums True Blue (1986), Who's That Girl (1987), Like a Prayer (1989), I'm Breathless (1990) and Ray of Light (1998). He scored Madonna's 2008 documentary I Am Because We Are, played keyboards with her at Live Aid (1985), and was musical director and keyboardist on The Virgin Tour (1985) and the Who's That Girl World Tour (1987).

<i>Enigma</i> (1982 film) 1982 British film

Enigma is a 1982 Anglo-American thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Martin Sheen, Sam Neill, Brigitte Fossey, and Kevin McNally. Based on Michael Barak's novel Enigma Sacrifice, the film centers on a CIA agent who tries to infiltrate Soviet intelligence in order to stop a murderous plot.

<i>The Wraith</i> 1986 action/supernatural horror film

The Wraith is a 1986 independently made American action-fantasy film, produced by John Kemeny, written and directed by Mike Marvin, and starring Charlie Sheen, Sherilyn Fenn, Nick Cassavetes, and Randy Quaid. The film was theatrically released November 21, 1986, on just 88 screens in the United States by New Century Vista Film Company.

<i>Slapstick of Another Kind</i> 1982 film by Steven Paul

Slapstick of Another Kind is a 1984 American comic science fiction film starring Jerry Lewis, Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldman. It was filmed in 1982, and released in March 1984 by both The S. Paul Company/Serendipity Entertainment Releasing Company and International Film Marketing. The film was written and directed by Steven Paul and is based on the novel Slapstick (1976) by Kurt Vonnegut.

<i>The Pope of Greenwich Village</i> 1984 US crime dark comedy film by Stuart Rosenberg

The Pope of Greenwich Village is a 1984 American crime black comedy film directed by Stuart Rosenberg and starring Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Geraldine Page, Kenneth McMillan and Burt Young. Page was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her two-scene role. The film was adapted by screenwriter Vincent Patrick from his novel of the same name.

<i>Countdown</i> (1967 film) 1967 film by Robert Altman

Countdown is a 1967 science fiction film directed by Robert Altman, based on the 1964 novel The Pilgrim Project by Hank Searls. Made before M*A*S*H, the film was subject to re-editing by the studio. Countdown stars James Caan and Robert Duvall as astronauts vying to be the first American to walk on the Moon as part of a crash program to beat the Soviet Union.

<i>Above and Beyond</i> (1952 film) 1952 film by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama

Above and Beyond is a 1952 American World War II film about Lt. Col. Paul W. Tibbets Jr., the pilot of the aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945.

<i>Beverly Hills Brats</i> 1989 film by Jim Sotos

Beverly Hills Brats is a 1989 American comedy film. Directed by Jim Sotos, the film stars Peter Billingsley, Martin Sheen, Burt Young, Terry Moore, George Kirby, Ruby Keeler and Whoopi Goldberg in a cameo role.

<i>Hands of the Ripper</i> 1971 British film by Peter Sasdy

Hands of the Ripper is a 1971 British horror film directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Eric Porter, Angharad Rees and Jane Merrow. It was produced by Aida Young for Hammer Film Productions, and written by L. W. Davidson from a story by Edward Spencer Shew. The film was released in the U.S. as a double feature with Twins of Evil (1971).

<i>Which Way to the Front?</i> 1970 film by Jerry Lewis

Which Way to the Front? is a 1970 American comedy film produced, directed by and starring Jerry Lewis, which was his first film for Warner Bros.

Alice is a 1982 musical-fantasy film directed by Jacek Bromski. A Belgian and Polish co-production, it is a modern telling of Lewis Carroll's 1865 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland story and stars French actress Sophie Barjac in the title role. Jean-Pierre Cassel plays the jogger named Rabbit with whom Alice falls in love; Susannah York, Paul Nicholas, Jack Wild, Tracy Hyde, Peter Straker and Dominic Guard all have supporting roles.

<i>Lurking Fear</i> (film) 1994 American film

Lurking Fear is a 1994 horror film, loosely based on the H. P. Lovecraft short story "The Lurking Fear". It was produced by Charles Band's Full Moon Entertainment and written and directed by C. Courtney Joyner.

<i>Cold Steel</i> (1987 film) 1987 film by Dorothy Ann Puzo

Cold Steel is a 1987 American thriller film directed by Dorothy Ann Puzo, and starring Brad Davis, Sharon Stone, Jonathan Banks, and Adam Ant. It was Anthony LaPaglia's film debut.

<i>Night Caller from Outer Space</i> 1965 British film by John Gilling

Night Caller from Outer Space, is a British 1965 science fiction film directed by John Gilling and starring John Saxon, Maurice Denham and Patricia Haines. It is based on Frank Crisp's 1961 novel The Night Callers. A colourised version of the film was released in 2011.

A capsule review or mini review is a form of appraisal, usually associated with journalism, that offers a relatively short critique of a specified creative work. Capsule reviews generally appear in publications like newspapers and magazines and may be placed within the context of a cultural digest section of a publication.

<i>Devils of Darkness</i> 1965 British horror film by Lance Comfort

Devils of Darkness is a 1965 British horror film directed by Lance Comfort and starring William Sylvester, Hubert Noël and Carole Gray. It was the last feature film directed by Comfort.

<i>The Lone Wolf and His Lady</i> 1949 film by John Hoffman

The Lone Wolf and His Lady is a 1949 American mystery film directed by John Hoffman and starring Ron Randell, June Vincent and Alan Mowbray. It is the 15th and final Lone Wolf film produced by Columbia Pictures, and was written by Edward Dein and Michael Stuart Boylan.

<i>The Young Lovers</i> (1964 film) 1964 film by Samuel Goldwyn, Jr.

The Young Lovers is a 1964 black-and-white American romantic drama film. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in November 1964. The sole directorial effort of its producer, Samuel Goldwyn Jr., it stars Peter Fonda and Sharon Hugueny, with second leads Nick Adams and Deborah Walley. Scripted by George Garrett from a 1955 novel by Julian Halevy, the film was shot in September–October 1963 and released a year later.

References

  1. ↑ Broeske, Pat H. (1988-11-27). "'Cocoon' & Its Sequels". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  2. ↑ Lentz, Harris M. (1994). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Supplement 2, through 1993. McFarland. ISBN   978-0-89950-927-3.
  3. ↑ Pym, John (2000). Time Out Film Guide. Penguin. ISBN   978-0-14-028947-3.
  4. ↑ Weinstein, Steve (1988-07-26). "At 18, Acting Is Still a Game for Veteran Christian Slater". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  5. ↑ "Rose Taboo". The Toronto Star (Newspapers.com). September 6, 1988.
  6. 1 2 Rogers, Pauline B. (1998-01-19). Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art. CRC Press. ISBN   978-1-136-04577-6.
  7. ↑ Balzini, Barbara (2014-11-26). Sharon Stone: Felice di essere ancora una vamp (in Italian). Imprimatur editore. ISBN   978-88-6830-242-9.
  8. ↑ Carroll, Liz (1990-03-04). "On Location". The Sunday News. p. 11. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  9. ↑ Barsanti, Chris (2014-09-22). The Sci-Fi Movie Guide: The Universe of Film from Alien to Zardoz. Visible Ink Press. ISBN   978-1-57859-533-4.
  10. ↑ Azzara, Roberto (2019-01-07). La fantascienza cinematografica, la seconda età dell'oro (in Italian). Youcanprint. ISBN   978-88-278-6491-3.
  11. ↑ Ink, Visible; Craddock (1996). Videohound's Golden Movie Retriever, 1997. Thomson Gale. ISBN   978-0-7876-0780-7.
  12. ↑ Castell, Ron (1995). Blockbuster Video Guide to Movies and Videos, 1996. Dell Pub. ISBN   978-0-440-22114-2.
  13. ↑ "Mediafilm". mediafilm.ca (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  14. ↑ Maltin, Leonard (2012-09-04). Leonard Maltin's 2013 Movie Guide: The Modern Era. Penguin. ISBN   978-1-101-60463-2.
  15. ↑ "Moon Trek - Das Licht der dunklen Seite". www.filmdienst.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-01-23.
  16. ↑ Tulard, Jean (2013-07-18). Le Nouveau guide des films - Intégrale (in French). Groupe Robert Laffont. ISBN   978-2-221-12486-4.
  17. ↑ Shary, Timothy (2009-01-27). Generation Multiplex: The Image of Youth in Contemporary American Cinema. University of Texas Press. ISBN   978-0-292-77490-2.


Drama film icon.svg

This 1980s drama film–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.