'The Right Stuff'

The Right Stuff is a really good movie. There's really no weak link from the acting and writing to the cinematography and general epicness of it all.

In hindsight, it's quite a who's who -- in one way or another -- of actors and actresses with a ton of interesting footnotes. Interestingly, it's one of only two films to get three Oscar nominations for acting.

Levon Helm
The drummer and principal of The Band provided his voice for the narration and portrayed Jack Ridley, a character I was generally unaware of. No clue as to how he got involved. Quite the odd choice.

Sam Shepard
Gives a very understated portrayal of Chuck Yeager, the groundbreaker who was left behind in the space race. Shepard is the type that you immediately know the face and his filmography is impressive, but I never remember his characters. I'd probably remember his Yeager, however.

Chuck Yeager
Guests as "Fred."

Ed Harris
Was a nobody in 1983. Gets the starring role as John Glenn and then he exploded. An extremely fit and young-looking Ed Harris. Before he would be typecast as a mysterious outsider in every film.

Kim Stanley
Portrays dive owner Pancho Barnes, a particularly minor role for a particularly minor actress. Her one major bullet point is that she provided the voice for a grown-up Scout (or narrator) for the 1962 version of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Dennis Quaid
Looks as if he were just out of high school. Was 29 at the time. Pretty much makes the film.

Fred Ward
You probably know him. He's a familiar face. Most notably, he's been in every Tremors film every made. From Gus Grissom to fighting gigantic killer worms with Michael Gross.

Jeff Goldblum - Harry Shearer
Both play a pair of recruiters seeking the best and the brightest with "the right stuff." Goldblum had co-starred in The Big Chill that same year. Shearer hadn't portrayed Derek Smalls, bass player for a little metal band named Spinal Tap yet.

Mary Jo Deschanel
I wouldn't know Mary Jo Deschanel from Eve. Although, she portrays John Glenn's stuttering wife, it's her last name that caught my attention. She is the mother of Emily and Zooey Deschanel, both of whom have put togethre a good number of successful films and TV shows and a singing career. She must be proud.