e way in the real life of homer hickam as they did in the film adaptation of his book, rocket boys, but the movie " october sky " ( an anagram of the book's title ) is good enough to stand alone. i have not read hickam's memoirs, but i am still able to enjoy and understand their film adaptation. the film, directed by joe johnston and written by lewis colick, records the story of teenager homer hickam ( jake gyllenhaal ), beginning in october of 1957. it opens with the sound of a radio broadcast, bringing ne