A millones de kilómetros

This is a really fine movie of a great story, of a boy named José who, as a Mexican migrant worker with his family, looked up and asked, "What are the stars for?" And then decided he wanted to become an Astronaut. As he found when he became an adult with an Engineering degree, the odds were stacked heavily against him.

I can relate, as a boy of 11, I remember standing outside with my dad, looking up in the Houston night sky and trying to spot Sputnik, the Russian satellite that became the first one in 1957. However, unlike José, I didn't have any grand dreams and I made my career here on the surface of Earth.

The adult José is played by Michael Peña, which was an excellent choice. Although born in Chicago his family were workers from Mexico, I'd bet that helped him relate to the character he played. Even though Peña was already in his 40s here, he had to play a teenager graduating from high school and with makeup it didn't seem too much out of place.

My wife and I enjoyed it at home, streaming on Prime. Excellent movie. It shows that you can never know from what background a stellar performer will originate, and the power of persistence.

Greetings again from the darkness. A tongue-in-cheek note just prior to the closing credits provide us with one final smile: "Jose is the first migrant farmworker to have traveled to space." This footnote encapsulates what this biopic is all about - dreams, commitment, sacrifice, and overcoming obstacles. Writer-director Alejandra Marquez Abella and co-writers Bettina Gilois and Hernan Jimenez adapted this from Jose Hernandez's memoir, "Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned Astronaut", creating a wonderful (and yes, inspirational) viewing experience for the entire family. In fact, it's the perfect selection for family movie night (other than the youngest kids who won't understand the themes).

Superb character actor Michael Pena (the underrated END OF WATCH, 2012) takes the lead as Jose Hernandez, who grew up in a family of migrant farmworkers bouncing from town to town for harvesting work in the fields. Even as a child, Jose worked alongside his family whenever he wasn't in school. And it was one teacher in particular who went above and beyond to change the trajectory of Jose's life. Recognizing his potential, and his dream of going to space, the teacher spoke with respect to his parents in terms that made sense. Her actions, along with Jose's dad passing along his recipe for success ... the five ingredients serve as chapters in the film ... allowed Jose to passionately pursue his dreams.

Along the way, Jose met and married Adela (Rosa Salazar, ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, 2019), and the two began a partnership and a family ... a large family. The theme of family is present throughout Jose's story, as support and sacrifice are necessary at every step. We see group hugs in good times and bad. We see doses of reality when needed, and we learn that "tenacity is a superpower" as Jose begins his years-long pursuit of being accepted into NASA - a goal he achieved after eleven letters of regret.

Everyone faces obstacles, and some are greater than others. What sets some folks apart is their motivation to continue the pursuit. Perhaps words of wisdom from a parent or spouse hits at just the right time, or maybe it's that one teacher who inspires a "can do" approach with a response to the "When I grow up ..." essay assignment. Whatever else is involved, we recognize the tenacity that Jose displayed, and this film will likely inspire others to follow their own dreams. Supporting roles are played well by Julio Cesar Cedillo and Veronica Falcon as Jose's parents, Garret Dillahunt and Sarayu Blue as astronauts, and Bobby Soto as a special cousin. Pena flashes the charm and likability to become the hero we admire, and director Abella eschews the cliches expected from such a story. The actual clips and photos at the end only add to this heartwarming movie perfectly suited to family movie night.

Premiers on Prime Video on September 15, 2023.

Never mind the new account 10/10's, this film is very far from perfect, but a decent enough biopic film to see once. The main issue with this film is the underwhelming filmmaking with the long and dragged out first half and the very slow pacing. Although all casting and performances were decent, Pena's acting lacked urgency with blame falling on the director's inability to direct her cast effectively. The just over two hour runtime really dragged out, especially the first two acts. This film needed a good 15-20 minute trim, and the pacing picked up by at least 1.2x. The third act was by far the most engaging and entertaining. I'm sure in the hands of more experienced writers and director I would've enjoyed this more, and feel this film missed the opportunity to really showcase Jose Hernandez's incredible journey.

Whether it's from movies or from our own lives, aspiring to be a certain profession or person has never been the issue. What I deeply realize is the cost of the choices we make. Becoming a doctor, is it difficult? Yes, it's tough not in the sense of becoming a doctor itself but in the sense of whether one is willing to give up indulgence, focus on studying in medical school, work hard during internships, pass the medical licensing exams, and be willing to help and treat patients. What's truly challenging is whether one chooses not to slack off or take shortcuts in between.

In the case of Jose Hernandez portrayed by Michael Pena, he went from being a migrant farmworker to aspiring to be an astronaut. If it were me today, I might think that fulfilling such dreams requires a hefty sum of money. But this is an inspirational movie, a tale of perseverance, community, and sacrifice. It's not necessarily about being a passenger who enjoys the ride but rather becoming a valuable member that the government needs. It's like wanting to go to the United States; you can pay for a vacation or it could be a business trip or assignment required by a company, viewed from different perspectives.

9.5/10 A million miles away is a really good movie. It is inspirational and heartfelt. The two main actors #michaelpena and #rosasalazar were outstanding in their roles. Their chemistry felt authentic. Rosa steals the scenes she is in as the supporting wife. The film portrays the struggles of Jose Hernandez and his migrant farmworker family and how they overcome them. It is fun and never boring. It is funny and emotional and makes you cheer for Micheal Pena's character. The film keeps you engaged from beginning to end. The music was great. Everything about this film was wonderful. If you have a chance, watch it!