Capricorn One (1978)

Seen: On dvd on our big screen/projector set-up, from our personal collection.

Just before astronauts Brubaker (James Brolin), Willis (Sam Waterston), and Walker (OJ Simpson) take off for a highly-anticipated mission to Mars, they are unceremoniously pulled from the flight and enclosed in an isolated military complex. Turns out the life-support system is faulty, and in order to save face and keep the space program from losing funding, they have to fake the landing on camera on a soundstage dolled up like Mars. But as the months-long hoax continues, the risk of discovery increases, and NASA goes to great lengths to keep its secret. The astronauts doubt their decision to fool the nation, and a nosy journalist (Elliott Gould) finds his life endangered as he comes closer to the shocking truth.

Capricorn One came as a true surprise. I vaguely remembered reading about it at Snarky's Machine, and from her review I expected something campier I think. But actually, I un-ironically really liked it! Yes, it is chock-full of plot holes and unrealistic narrative leaps, and the fake Mars looked really bad, but it's got a series of killer action sequences and a strong cast, plus the premise is original (or felt so to me, anyway). I loved seeing James "My Son Looks Exactly Like Me" Brolin as the stereotypical All-American astronaut, a dude everyone listens to without question because he's gruff and stoic and badass. OJ Simpson and Sam Waterston are under-used, though the latter gets a really good scene towards the end. Of course, Elliott Gould is the real star with his goofy face and crazy collars and adorable eagerness.

It's a ridiculous movie, no doubt about it- there's a chase scene between monstrous military helicopters and a crop-dusting plane through sheer canyons, for goodness sake. And it's AWESOME. Also Elliott Gould drives his car off a bridge! WOW! James Brolin kills a snake and eats it raw! EW! It's basically a super-great film, even if it has so many plot problems I can't even get into it. And one of the hokiest, totally-spoiling-the-effects-of-the-previous-two-hours endings I have ever seen. Seriously, there are times for slow-motion and then there are times to figure out a better way to end your damn movie.

4/5

Pair This Movie With: I didn't realize it until afterward but this is a film by Peter Hyams, who also did Outland, which I think would work as a double feature about space-related crimes. Or maybe Titan AE? I feel like that movie needs more love.