Blue Sky: The 1990s nuclear drama that won Jessica Lange her second Oscar
Family and military tensions blow up in Tony Richardsonâs final film, ignited by Jessica Langeâs Oscar-winning turn as a troublesome army wife revealing unexpected reserves of resilience.
19 January 2021
Blue Sky (1994)
It took a while for audiences to be able to see Blue Sky. Completed in 1991, what would become the final film of Tony Richardsonâs exceptionally prolific career went unreleased for 3 years, due to the demise of its distributor, Orion.
The kind of characterful, modestly budgeted American drama that was a 1980s/90s staple but which seldom gets the green light these days, Richardsonâs film, available now for the first time on Blu-ray, finally appeared in 1994. By that time, sadly, the director himself had died. But the filmâs respectful reception constituted a worthy, belated tribute â one crowned by Jessica Langeâs best actress Oscar win for her boldly inventive lead performance.