The Dish (2001)

The Dish, a good-natured and effortlessly funny Australian drama-comedy directed by Rob Sitch (The Castle), is filled with warm-hearted characters and has a factual hook that's irresistibly inspiring. This cumulative goodwill springs forth from the rural town of Parkes in New South Wales, where a 1,000-ton radio observatory dish is recruited to relay telemetry, voice, and television signals from the historic Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. To make sure the dish delivers Neil Armstrong's "giant leap for mankind" to 600 million eager viewers, site director Cliff Buxton (Sam Neill, at his gentle best) relies on a three-man crew consisting of an American NASA watchdog (Patrick Warburton, resembling a bearish Clark Kent), a sarcastic engineer (Kevin Harrington), and a lovestruck math whiz (Tom Long) who's pining for the sister of the dish's rather dimly overzealous security guard (Taylor Kane).

Numerous other supporting characters add color to the proceedings, and crises arise (albeit briefly) when power outage, signal loss, and windstorms threaten to spoil Parkes's proudest hour. It all rates a bit high on the cuteness meter, but The Dish is so smoothly amusing that you won't object to its eagerness to please. By focusing on the Aussie locals, the film reminds us that the moon landing was an occasion of global unity, and pride in all humanity is reflected in the wondrous smiles of Cliff, his crew, and the citizens of Parkes. That they played such a small but pivotal role in this historical milestone is just one of many joys to be discovered in this delightful little movie. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Sense of purpose

This is a great movie about Apollo 11's landing on Moon. It is 1969, time when there was only black and white television. Yet, physicists were using telemetry and satellite dish for mapping the starts in the sky, that could now be used to pick up that radio signal from far away. We get to see a small group of staff in Parkes, Australia that is tasked to pick up the signal from Apollo when northern hemisphere cannot. They work hand in hand with NASA on recording astronauts' every move on their way to and from Moon. What is endearing about the film is humorous take on interactions between Americans and Australians; the clash of cultures as well as similarities; their determination of overcoming all obstacles and ensuring the TV picture of the Neil Armstrong's first walk on the Moon. If you like the "Right Stuff" or "Apollo 13" you will like this movie even more. This is a film about regular men with strong sense of purpose in their role of one of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind. Sam Neill give a very fine performance of Science Director taking all the risks necessary to keep peace amongst his staff and produce a signal that will change the history of mankind forever. September 29, 2008

The day mankind almost missed the giant leap!

"The Dish" is an unpretentious motion picture. It is not intended to be a documentary, though it is based on a true story. It is conducted with upstanding humour, though its characters are depicted as realistic as they could be. Once more history proves how close Murphy's Law applies to small or huge enterprises, and how a chain can be as strong as its weakest link. Those who sat with their eyes locked to the TV screen on that evening of July 20th 1969 would have never guessed how such a small detail could have totally jeopardized mankind's greatest achievement in the 20th Century. "The Dish" should come as an extra to every documentary on how we reached the moon. September 20, 2008

Awesome Movie

This movie is AWESOME. I watch it over and over again. I have gotten other people loving it too. Based loosely on a true story of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. After watching this movie, I hope to someday go to Australia to see "The Dish"
July 26, 2008

The Dish

This movie was an unexpected find. We had never heard of it. We saw it in a movie rental store and we liked Sam Neill, so we thought we'd give it a try. Since then it has become one of those movies you can watch over and over, you pull it out for friends and family to see because they have never heard of it either. I have bought it to give away as birthday and Christmas gifts and people are always delighted. It is full of humor, nostalgia, some suspense, and leaves you with this wonderful sense of pride and accomplishment. You need to give it a try. It's a different point of view of man's first walk on the moon. You won't be disappointed. July 13, 2008

Comedic Gem!

This film, although critically aclaimed, does not (yet?) have the following it deserves! Based on actual events, and very suitable for family viewing (even educational!), THE DISH is a warmhearted look at how a small town in Australia deals with having a world-wide spotlight focused on it while dealing with technical upheavals.

The event is America's first lunar landing. The satellite dish of the title is located in the middle of a sheep paddock in rural Australia, and is the only one of a handful of facilities capable of relaying video footage from the moon. Admittedly, this sounds pretty small now, but in 1969, this was heady stuff. The DISH personnel, the townspeople, the VIPs who flooded in for the occasion are all wonderfully represented.

Sam Neill heads a cast of character actors all of whom turn in perfect performances. Patrick Warburton, known as Agent T in Men in Black II - among other roles, is terrific as the NASA 'expert' regarded by the locals as a stuffed shirt. And the scenes of the crew playing cricket are priceless.

I rented THE DISH for two reasons: I well remember the moon landing, and I enjoy watching Sam Neill work. I was very pleased on both counts. It may remain a 'best kept secret' in an age when films seem to be bent on outdoing each other with action, gore, and special effects. I sincerely hope not - this is worth watching more than once.

Overall, the film - which does have a few tense moments - is a gem that depicts ordinary people reacting to some very extraordinary circumstances. It's gentle comedy makes its point. Low key? Yes. Boring? NO! It's nice to see the good guys finish FIRST! July 1, 2008

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