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Movie-TV
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(2003 feature film; released on March 28, 2003)
Bruce Greenwood co-stars as famed astronaut Col. Robert Iverson in this science fiction thriller in which the earth has stopped rotating because of a change in the planet's core temperature. To restore normalcy and prevent the end of the world, a team of astronauts and scientists must travel to the center of the earth to detonate an atomic bomb. Bruce plays the national hero chosen to command the mission along with his co-pilot Major Rebecca Childs, played by top billed Hilary Swank. The film was directed by Jon Amiel and stars Aaron Eckhart as the scientist who discovers the disastor and co-stars Tcheky Karyo, Stanley Tucci and Delroy Lindo as the scientific experts who compose the rest of the terranaut team with Alfre Woodard and DJ Qualls as their above-the-earth experts. Filming began December 10, 2001 in Vancouver and wound up production late in April 2002 in Utah. A November 1st release date was moved back to March 28, 2003 to expand on special effects, which included the destruction of the Colosseum in Rome, the melting of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and a terrifying attack of pigeons in Trafalgar Square, London.
Described as a science fiction film with characters, director Amiel chose his cast carefully, selecting actors known for their thespian abilities rather than ones known as action heroes. Bruce Greenwood's Iverson is initially introduced as the extremely competent commander of a NASA shuttle craft just returning to planet earth. Because of the magnetic force that has knocked the earth off its axis, the shuttle's course has been altered and Iverson must make a crash landing into the Los Angeles River with Beck Childs' navigation helping to save the day. There was considerable concern that the scene might be inappropriate because of the Columbia Shuttle disastor, which occurred after filming and just before the movie's release. But even though all references were pulled from released trailers, it was eventually determined the scene should remain in the movie, as it would reflect positively on the space program and all its heroes.
As might be expected in such a large ensemble, Bruce Greenwood's Col. Robert Iverson is not front and center for most the film, but the role is handsome and heroic, and he has several meaty scenes including the opening shuttle disastor and a beautifully played one-on-one with Beck Childs (Hilary Swank) in which he advises her on leadership, a foretelling of where both their roles are headed. 
Bruce Greenwood as Col. Robert Iverson
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 A NASA shuttle crew gets ready to land |
38 secs |
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Iverson questions a glib Zimsky |
23 secs |
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Bob Iverson advises Beck Childs on leadership |
57 secs |