Ed Harris has the right stuff.

With the 50th anniversary of NASA being celebrated this year, and the Discovery Channel running their series "When We Left the Earth" (Sundays at 9pm), one has the potential for getting the "space bug".  Space, even if you aren't interested in science, is fascinating from a historical point of view.  If you find yourself in need of cinema therapy to cure the want for space, look no further.  It also helps if you like Ed Harris.

"The Right Stuff", a 1983 film based on the Tom Wolfe novel of the same name, follows the Mercury astronauts from their recruitments until the end of the Mercury missions.  It stars Ed Harris, Sam Shepard, Dennis Quaid, and has appearances from Jeff Goldblum and Harry Shearer.  This movie is fantastic.  The music, the beautiful views of space, archival footage, and the talented actors really make this film worth watching, even though it is 4 hours long.  They aren't a long 4 hours though.  Also keep your eye out from appearances from the real life people the movie is about throughout the film.  

Once you finish the Mercury missions, move on to the Apollo missions of the late 1960s and early 1970s with "Apollo 13", the better known 1995 gem from Ron Howard.  Tom Hanks stars as Jim Lovell, the commander of the almost-fatal mission, with Ed Harris as Gene Krantz, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinese, and Ron Howard's brother and dad (who make appearances in almost all of his films).  This film is inspiring and at times, suspenseful (even if you do know your history).  

Both movies were nominated for Best Picture in their respective years and have Ed Harris.   Why haven't you seen these already?  Get on that.

-Meg.