The Astronaut Farmer
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Movie Reviews of The Astronaut Farmer
Movie Review: Rocket Man
Summary: 5 Stars
Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen star in this uplifting film about following your dreams and the importance of family.
Thornton stars as Charlie Farmer, a former aeronautics engineer and current Texas ranch owner. Charlie has a dream about going into space in a home-made rocket ship. Everyone thinks he's crazy, but his wife Audie (Virginia Madsen), along with the rest of his family support him completely. Time passes, and work has progressed on the rocket. However, things aren't going well financially for the Farmers. The bank has threatened to foreclose on the house, Audie's father (Bruce Dern) has come to live with the family, and the FBI and the FAA have staked out Charlie's house after he attempted to purchase 10,000 gallons of rocket fuel online. At a cost of $50,000, Charlie doesn't have the money for the fuel. So, he goes to his local bank, where he's turned down for a loan.
Meanwhile, a former astronaut friend of Charlie's (played by Bruce Willis) shows up at the house to try to dissuade Charlie from trying to launch his rocket. This attempt fails, and Charlie presses on. Later, a meeting is scheduled between Charlie and the FAA, and the FAA refuses to allow Charlie to launch.
Desperate and running out of time before the bank forecloses, Charlie decides to make his own rocket fuel and launch anyway. This turns into a disaster, as the launch goes terribly wrong. Charlie ends up in the hospital with numerous broken bones. Meanwhile, Audie's father has passed away, leaving a sizable sum of inheritance for the family.
After convalescing at home, Charlie decides he's done with space travel. Audie takes the money she inherited from her father to the bank to pay off the family's debts, but she changes her mind. She returns home with the money and speaks with Charlie about the importance of following your dreams. Soon, Charlie is at work on a new rocket. This time, the launch works and, with the help of his son, Shephard (Max Thieriot), Charlie and "The Dreamer" reach orbit. After orbiting the earth nine times, Charlie touches down not far from his home, and he is picked up by his family.
This is an inspiring and uplifting movie. Granted, the plot may be a little far-fetched, but the message is not; learn to dream and then follow your dreams. Billy Bob Thornton gives one of his best performances as Charlie, and Virginia Madsen is good, too. Bruce Willis' cameo is a good addition to the film, as is Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" spoof.
I give this movie my highest recommendation. The acting is good, the story is well-conceived, and the message is clear: follow your dreams and never, ever give up.
Movie Review: a movie for the entire family
Summary: 5 Stars
I went in expecting a nice pleasant family movie, and that's exactly what I got. The premieres we seen from the commercials painted the entire picture. A father wants to create a rocket to launch him into outer space, and along the way, he has to deal with the FBI and more than his fair share of major disappointments preventing his dream from coming true.
I think the movie had its share of hits and misses (though nothing TOO uneventful thankfully). I mean, the character build up in the beginning (the segments where we get to know all the main characters) was very boring, but then, once the father got the urge to build his dream rocket and wanted his family to be included in the project (especially his son), the story really began to pick up.
I didn't really like the ending though. I won't say what happens at the end, but it just ends, and that's it. Wasn't too impressed with that. I was also disappointed they used the very predictable Elton John classic "Rocket Man" for the ending credits theme. Come on now, that's just too obvious of a choice (as great as the song is).
What made the movie so great was how many times the father was convinced he was gonna give up completely building the rocket, only for something to come along and change his mind. This is the main thing that kept me watching.
Overall, yeah, it's about what you'd expect. Family fun, and a light storyline with some meaning and feeling attached to it to make you feel good.
Movie Review: Believe in the power of your dream (dreams can come true)!
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is a very uplifting movie in that it shows to the audience that anything is possible through hard work, perseverance, and the belief you can get it done. Although it did sound very far fetched that someone (Billy Bob Thorton as Charlie Farmer) can build a rocket and fly it on their own to outer space, the idea of putting in the effort is what counts. To actually build a rocket like that on your own in real life would be a total logistical and financial nightmare. Like in the movie the federal government would suspect you are building a WMD and tear down your project!
The funniest part of the film is where Charlie Farmer throws a brick through his friend's (the bank loan officer's) window, when the loan officer turns down his request for funding. He is forced to formally apologize to him later at the police station. This movie is an uplifting, but also funny movie. I am saddened that so many people gave this movie negative reviews based on the far fetched nature of the plot. I mean come on guys, this is only a MOVIE...isn't the story line sometimes supposed to be far fetched and out of reality? I enjoyed how someone built a rocket and actually got to go outside his own planet and return home to tell about it.
Billy Bob Thorton and Virginia Madsen do an excellent job of acting in the movie and I highly recommend this movie for the family or even to watch with your significant other. There are so many lessons that can be learned from the movie.
Movie Review: Wanna See Something Really Beautiful?
Summary: 5 Stars
A film that makes you reflect on your own dreams or the dreams of your loved ones. This movie, though a bit of a corny, family entertainment piece, touches something childlike in us. To be shown a man who holds onto his childhood dream while friends, community and the world are saying its time to let go of it, makes for a magical viewing experience. The fact that his family sticks through it with him, even though at times their belief in him is tested, was what I thought the bigger lesson in this movie. To support those in your family in attempting to fulfill their dream, through accomplishment and/or failure, is the sign of a healthy and happy family.
A beautiful movie with real people in excitingly unreal roles. Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen and the three kid actors capture the essence of a family living with an unfulfilled dream and the loving sacrifice to see that dream fulfilled. Grandfather, husband, wife, son, daughter, they all have so much to lose and gain by one's fulfillment of the dream. The southwestern landscape adds to the magic.
If you can remember watching a movie as a child that held you spellbound in a theater or in front of the television, this film can bring you back to that time and place.
Wonderful!
Movie Review: I LOVED this movie - total departure for Billy Bob
Summary: 5 Stars
This is truly a feel good movie - but with many minor aspects thrown in. Yes, Billy Bob plays a dreamer - but his character is so much more complex then that - he is a father who wants to show his kids to literally reach for the moon and to NOT give up on your dreams and desires and yet he is a son, trying to heal from the hurt of the loss of his father. One of the scenes I loved was between Bruce Dern and Billy Bob when Bruce was telling him what a great father he was. I just loved it!
I also love the aspect of this man taking on the government and the "laws" that protect us and the premise that the government "owns" space - for me that was another aspect of the movie that I enjoyed - especially with the FBI agents - they were great.
It's a funny, feel good movie with a lot of messages hidden within this movie!