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"Sputnik Mania"
"Sputnik Mania Trailer" - First Look
"Sputnik Mania" - In Theaters March 14, 2008

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"Sputnik Mania"
- October 4, 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the first man-made object ever to leave the atmosphere and successfully orbit the earth. Throughout the world, events are being planned to celebrate the "Sputnik Year," which begins on the anniversary and runs through December 31, 2008. As part of that celebration, SPUTNIK MANIA tells the satellite's story from America's point of view.

Like today, 1957 was a time of fear. In place of Al Qaeda, dirty bombs, and the war in Iraq, there were the Soviets, hydrogen bombs, and the Cold War. The world's two superpowers were hell-bent on beating one another by any means necessary. It was also a time of political wrangling, with a popular president under attack for not being strong enough on Communism.

The film leads us through the first year following the launch of Sputnik. By the end of that year, nothing was the same. Sputnik spurred us into an arms and space race, necessitating the creation of an academic army of scientists and engineers. This led to the development of NASA, massive reforms in our education system, and the discoveries that enabled many of the consumer technologies on which we depend today (The Internet, cell phones, global positioning systems, credit card verifications and high-definition televisions). The launch of Sputnik also led to widespread panic, fear and anxiety as leading politicians and the media whipped the public into an escalating mass frenzy - only months after Sputnik's launch, 60% of Americans thought that nuclear war was imminent and that 50% of the American population would likely die (Gallup Poll, April 1958).

With our education system again in dire need of reform, the renewed focus on nuclear testing, and NASA's plans to build a moon base by 2024, the cosmic frontier has reopened to a new generation of scientists, engineers, and soldiers. As the film's epilogue asks: what will be our next "Sputnik moment" -- the event that drives us to address these and other challenges?

SPUTNIK MANIA is based on Paul Dickson's bestselling book Sputnik: The Shock of the Century. The filmmaker, David Hoffman, has 40 years of movie-making experience, including over one hundred television specials and four feature documentaries. Actor Live Schrieber narrates the film with his dramatic and instantly recognizable style of storytelling.

Virtually every relevant organization supported the production of Sputnik. This includes the Russians, NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the National Education Association, NPR's Daniel Schorr, Homer Hickam of Rocket Boys fame, and more. All of these groups and individuals contribute to the film with short clips dramatically telling their stories.

Paralleling the shocks we felt in the aftermaths of Pearl Harbor and September 11, "Sputnik Mania" sings the uncannily prophetic song of the past to the tune of the present. It tells a story of great relevance to the issues of the 21st century.

Commenting on the geo-political atmosphere of the day, SPUTNIK MANIA offers a great opportunity to frame some important conversations pertaining to:
• international relations and American foreign policy;
• the march of science and technology;
• the impact on children/youth and implications for our school curriculum;
• the collective response to 9/11;
• the role of the media and fear; and
• American politics and the importance of remembering our history



Narrated By: Liev Schrieber
DIRECTOR: David Hoffman
STUDIO: IFC
RATING: G
THEATER COUNT (Opening Weekend): 1
RUNNING TIME: TBD
TOTAL DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE: TBD
U.S. DVD RELEASE DATE: TBD






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Wild About Movies provides you with more movie posters, movie trailers, movie synopses, Behind The Scenes of movies, and celebrity interviews than any other movie website. At WAM you are able to peruse the movie trailers, movie posters and movie synopses of more than 500 movies not yet in theaters (and more than 75,000 movies formerly in movie theaters and currently on DVD). The lastest additions: "Assassination Of A High School President," starring Bruce Willlis. The Clint Eastwood movie "Gran Torino." The sci-fil horror flicks "Pandorum" and "The Unborn." Kevin James as "Mall Cop." "The Burning Plain," starring Charlize Theron. The first "Wonder Woman" movie of the millennium. "The Education Of Charlie Banks" and "Pippa Lee." Clive Owen in "The International." "Lovely Still" - featuring Martin Landau & Ellen Burstyn. Isla Fisher in "Confessions Of A Shopaholic." And Mickey Rourke as "The Wrestler." Jamie Foxx and "Iron Man," Robert Downey Jr., in "The Soloist." Matt Damon in "Green Zone." And "Nothing Like The Holidays," John C. Reilly in "Cirque Du Freak." Patrick Swayze in "Powder Blue." Jake Gyllenhaal as "Prince of Persia: Sands Of Time" and "The Dark Knight" himself, Christian Bale, as John Connor in "Terminator Salvation." Sam Raimi's "Drag Me To Hell." Oscar winner Adrien Brody in "The Brothers Bloom." Rose McGowan as "Red Sonja 2010." Gerard Butler in three movies; "Game" and "Law Abiding Citizen" and opposite Katherine Heigl in "The Ugly Truth." And "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail." Rob Zombie's "Tyrannosaurus Rex." "Street Fighter" and Justin Chatwin in "Dragonball." Also Keanu Reeves in "The Day The Earth Stood Still." And Seth Rogen is "The Green Hornet." "Witchblade 2009," as well as "Fame 2009." And Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor as lovers in "I Love You Phillip Morris." Sequels: Everything from Daniel Radcliffe naked not in "Harry Potter 6," but Daniel Radcliffe naked at WAM and on Broadway in "Equus." The Disney 3D films "Cars 2" and "Toy Story 3." Shia LaBeouf in "Transformers 2" and Jason Statham in "Crank 2" and Michael Douglas in "Wall Street 2." And "Transporter 3." Vin Diesel in "Fast And Furious 4." Kate Beckinsale in "Underworld 3." Steve Martin's "The Pink Panther 2," and the requisites, "Ice Age 3" and "Cloverfield 2" and "Iron Man 2." The very delayed "Star Trek XI." The prequel of "The DaVinci Code," "Angels & Demons." Need more movies? Channing Tatum in "GI Joe The Movie." And Seann William Scott in "Trainwreck: My Life As An Idiot." The big screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" and two Tony winning plays turned movies, "Doubt," starring Meryl Streep, and "Frost Nixon," starring Frank Langella (each who will most likely earn 2009 Oscars). Also "Sunshine Cleaning" and Disney's new fave actor, The Rock, in "Race To Witch Mountain." Also, "Friday the 13th 2009" and Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio's next collaboration, "Ashecliffe" aka "Shutter Island." In addition, the big screen incarnations of "Marley & Me" and "The Spirit." Sacha Baron Cohen is "Bruno." Nicolas Cage in "Knowing." Also "Good" and the long delayed "Killshot." Brad Pitt in both "Inglorious Bastards" and "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button." The big screen adaptation of Maurice Sendack's "Where The Wild Things Are" and director Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" and "Taken," starring Liam Neeson. "Local Color." Along with "Watch Out" and "The Escapist." - More? Sure! Peter Jackson's "District 9" and "The Lovely Bones" and "The Hobbit Movies." Leonardo DiCaprio in "Revolutionary Road." And Kenneth Branagh's "Thor." And the 3D "They Came From Upstairs" and "Monsters vs Aliens." "The Smurfs Movie;" and "Splice;" and "Push;" "AstroBoy." The big screen version of "Land of the Lost" and Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" and Ben Stiller's "Chicago 7." And a slew of animated and non animated Walt Disney movies, many in 3D: including "Hannah Montana The Movie" and "Fraggle Rock: The Movie" and "The Jonas Brothers Movie 3D" and "Bolt," "The King of the Elves" and "Rapunzel," "The Bear and the Bow;" "Newt," "The Princess And The Frog," "Up," "Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea" and And Universal's animated movie "The Tale Of Despereaux." Heath Ledger's last movie, "Dr. Parnassus." "Black Devil Doll." The four Jonas Brothers in the big screen adaptation of "Walter The Farting Dog" and Wesley Snipes in "Gallowwalker!" Also: Zac Efron in three big screen movies: "Footloose 2010," "17 Again" and "Me And Orson Welles." Also "Bitch Slap" and Daniel Craig in "Defiance" and "Delgo" and "Pope Joan" and "Hotel For Dogs." Benicio Del Toro as "The Wolfman" and "Che." And "Notorious." Also, Hugh Jackman as "Wolverine;" "Valkyrie." The movies "He's Just Not That Into You," James ("Titanic") Cameron's "Avatar;" "Watchmen," (from the director of "300"), "The Bad Lieutenant 2009" and Hilary Swank in "Amelia." And Nicole Kidman in "Australia," and the non Disney animated movie "Coraline." And "Two Lovers" and Anne Hathaway in "Bride Wars." "The Reader," starring Ralph Fiennes. Robert Downey Jr. as "Sherlock Holmes." Will Smith in "Seven Pounds." The Italian worldwide hit "Gomorra," as well as the Chinese blockbuster "Red Cliff." Not to mention the Australian smash "The Tender Hook". And "Fanboys" and Julia Stiles in "Cry Of The Owl" and Diablo Cody in "Jennifer's Body," which she also wrote. "Captain America" and Sean Penn as Harvey "Milk." And don't forget the must 'not' sees "My Bloody Valentine 3D" and Uwe Boll's "Far Cry." "How To Be A Serial Killer." Also, the "2009 Oscars." Our latest entry - "Push" - in select movie theaters Super Bowl Weekend 2009. For the current and complete 2008 movie box office report... 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