Capricorn One (Peter Hyams, 1978)

“I’m always unwrapping things,” says Elliot Gould. He may be talking about hotel soap packages, but as investigative journalist Robert Caulfield, Gould also unwraps the biggest cover-up since the Kennedy Assassination. Playing into the conspiracy theories that have run rampant since Armstrong allegedly stepped foot on the moon, the astronauts of Capricorn One — the first manned mission to Mars — are whisked from launch pad to soundstage to ensure a successful “landing” and guarantee that NASA bigwig James Kelloway (Hal Holbrook) will continue to get federal funding.

As it cuts between the sequestered astronauts — Charles Brubaker (James Brolin), Peter Willis (Sam Waterston) and John Walker (O.J. Simpson) — and Caulfield, Capricorn One feels a bit scattered and about a half-hour too long, despite the terrific, driving score from Jerry Goldsmith. Too much of the Caulfield storyline feels forced, making viewers wonder when a government bullet to the head of a pesky reporter might serve better than a vast conspiracy and unreliable brake-cutting. In the astronaut plotline, Simpson gets only a handful of dialogue while Waterston doesn’t fair much better. Even as the lead astronaut, Brolin feels like he’s playing second banana to Gould.

Despite the sentiment — “With that kind of technology, you could convince somebody of almost anything…” — the attention to detail during the footage fakery is sadly lacking. It isn’t even a misplaced shadow or any other number of “tip-offs” that conspiracists use to “disprove” the Apollo moon landing that gives Caulfield the key to unraveling the Capricorn One conspiracy.

And this it too bad, because there are some good ideas at the core of Capricorn One, as well as a great cast. It’s one film from the past where a remake — Capricorn Two? — might be welcomed. Just don’t give it to Michael Bay. — Mike White

Tags: Capricorn One, Sam Waterston, OJ Simpson, Elliot Gould, Jerry Goldsmith, Hal Holbrook