Three astronauts—Charles Brubaker(James Brolin), John (O.J. Simpson), and Peter (Sam Waterston)—are suited up and on board a large space rocket, Capricorn One, destined for Mars. However, moments before take-off, the hatch of their rocket opens unexpectedly, and the three men are instructed to exit immediately, though no reason is given for the emergency. Leaving the rocket, they are transported to a secret location via helicopter. Meanwhile, Capricorn One takes off into the blue sky, even though the astronauts are not aboard.
Arriving at the secret location, the three astronauts are shut in a meeting room where they receive further information about their situation from Dr. Kelloway (Hal Holbrook). The real reason for their removal just moments before take-off was to preserve their lives and protect the prestigious reputation of the space program. Due to issues discovered in the life support system aboard the Capricorn One, the astronauts will be held on Earth to film a fake landing. The astronauts are coerced into complying with this deceptive plan, with their families threatened if they disagree. With no options left, they reluctantly agreed to NASA’s terms.
Meanwhile, a reporter named Robert (played by Elliott Gould) has gained inside intel about the video transmission from Cape Canaveral, which raises his suspicions about the authenticity of the mission. This leads Robert to pursue relentless leads to uncover the truth about the current mission. Unfortunately, the situation becomes even more perilous when the capsule malfunctions while attempting to return to Earth, placing the astronauts in immediate danger and making them a significant liability. Managing to escape the secret base and go on the run, they are determined to expose the truth to the world. Can the three astronauts find a way to disclose the truth before it’s too late?
Capricorn One is a conspiracy thriller that incorporates elements of drama and adventure. The film was directed by Peter Hyams, who is also known for other works, including 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984), The Relic (1997), Outland (1981), Sudden Death (1995), Timecop (1994), End of Days (1999), and many more.
I found the film’s opening and plot outline engaging and well-established. I was immediately drawn in by the mystery of why the three astronauts were instructed to step out of the rocket and transported to a secret location. I became invested in the story’s outcomes, wondering if the astronauts could survive and escape their perilous situation and if Robert, the reporter, would uncover the truth.
While the film starts with strong pacing, and the first act is excellent, the second act drags and feels much slower than the remainder of the film. Fortunately, the third act picks up the pace and introduces exciting elements of action and adventure, thanks to a crop-dusting plane and the subsequent sequences. That said, even the third act feels prolonged and overstays its welcome regarding runtime. While the performances were enjoyable, and the leading characters were compelling, I was disappointed by the ending, which left multiple loose ends. This was significantly frustrating as I had invested in certain subplots and wanted to know the fates of specific characters.
Overall, Capricorn One features an excellent storyline with high stakes and plenty of unpredictability. As a conspiracy thriller, the film effectively keeps you guessing how events will unfold and what the outcomes will be for the multiple characters introduced. While the characters are well-developed and the performances are strong, the film does struggle with pacing. The second act feels drawn out, and the third is overly long, featuring various incomplete or unsatisfying resolutions. Nonetheless, Capricorn One possesses many outstanding elements, particularly its intriguing concept and thrilling premise. It’s worth a look!
Capricorn One (1977) is Now Available on Blu-ray thanks to Imprint Films and Via Vision Entertainment!
6.5/10
Published: 20th January 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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