Rocket Science (film)

Infobox Film
name = Rocket Science

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caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Jeffrey Blitz
producer = Sean Welch
writer = Jeffrey Blitz
starring = Reece Thompson
Anna Kendrick
Nicholas D'Agosto
editing = Yana Gorskaya
distributor = Picturehouse
HBO Films
released = January 19, 2007 (Sundance)
August 10, 2007
runtime = 101 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget = $6,000,000
gross = $775,774
website = http://www.rocketsciencemovie.com/
imdb_id = 0477078

"Rocket Science" is a 2007 comedy-drama film concerning high school debate. It stars Reece Thompson as Hal Hefner. The film opened in limited release in the United States on August 10, 2007. The film won the Dramatic Directing prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. It was written and directed by Jeffrey Blitz, the director of "Spellbound". In regards to making a "teen film," Blitz was very specific in that he noted "the only way I was going to do a teen movie is if I felt like I could try to be more honest about what the actual experience of being a teenager is like." [ [http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=23116 EXCL: Jeffrey Blitz on "Rocket Science"] ]

Plot

Hal Hefner (Reece Thompson) is an ordinary and shy 15 year-old boy who's struggling to make it through the perils of high school. On top of his parents' recent divorce and an obsessive-compulsive, kleptomaniac older brother (Vincent Piazza), Hal has a stuttering problem. In spite of this speech impediment, the high school debate team star, Ginny Ryerson (Anna Kendrick), invites Hal to join the team. Stumbling his way to the championship, Hal falls in love, gains confidence and ultimately, realizes that love and life should not be rocket science.

Cast

* Reece Thompson as Hal Hefner
* Anna Kendrick as Ginny Ryerson
* Nicholas D'Agosto as Ben Wekselbaum
* Vincent Piazza as Earl Hefner
* Aaron Yoo as Heston
* Denis O'Hare as Mr. Hefner
* Lisbeth Bartlett as Mrs. Hefner
* Michael Kusnir as Flemming
* Josh Kay as Lewis Garrles
* Maury Ginsberg as Lewinsky
* Margo Martindale as Coach Lumbly
* Jonah Hill as Lionel - Junior Philosopher
* Carol Florence as Mrs. Ryerson
* David DeBoy as Mr. Ryerson
* Herb Merrick as Mr. Garrles
* Dan Cashman as Narrator

Real life connection

Like the character of Hal, director/writer Jeffrey Blitz also had a stutter when he was a teenager and joined his high school debate team.

DVD release

The DVD was released on January 29, 2008. [ [http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=66412 DVD Times - Rocket Science (R1) in January ] ]

;Special features
* Featurette
* Music video

References

External links

* [http://www.rocketsciencemovie.com/ Official site]
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