A Million Miles Away Review: An Inspirational True Story That Doesn’t Go Beyond

Some of the best stories are the most inspiring ones, but biopics can fail the very real people they’re based on. This is especially true if the film in question is focused more on the message than the person at its center. Directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella from a screenplay by her, Bettina Gilois, and Hernán Jiménez, A Million Miles Away is based on the true story of José Hernández, a Mexican-American son of a farmworker who dreamed of becoming an astronaut and going to space. A Million Miles Away is genuine in the way it presents its story, and the struggle Hernández endures, but it’s also so laser-focused on his space goals that it forgets to explore his inner life.