The Astronaut Farmer
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Movie Reviews of The Astronaut Farmer
Movie Review: A Tender Little Family Film About the Importance of Dreams
Summary: 4 Stars
THE ASTRONAUT FARMER is a sound little film with a warm message about living for your dreams. The best part about this film is its honesty in not pushing the limits to make a point. It does require the audience to release a bit of credibility, but stories that are fables are pretty rare in film these days and that is reason enough to enter this one. Twin brothers Michael and Mark Polish ('Northfork', 'Twin Falls Idaho', 'Jackpot') wrote and directed this work and have a style that begs indulgence on the part of the viewer, but the style is unique and consistent and is proving to be a fascinating source of art house movie making.
Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) is a retired military man who trained as an astronaut but retired to save his family farm in Texas. He dreams of a life as an astronaut and with the encouragement of his wife Audie (Virginia Madsen), grandfather Hal (Bruce Dern), son Shepard (Max Thieriot) and other children, Farmer has built a rocket and a space ship, going against all odds to be the first citizen astronaut. Though many of the little town's citizens question Farmer's credibility and though the bank threatens to foreclose on his over-borrowed farm, Farmer persists - his only major problem occurs when he orders 10,000 gallons of fuel, a factor that alerts the FBI. But Farmer manages to remain focused to achieve his dream and the ending of the movie reveals the payoff to his persistence.
The cast is excellent with Thornton giving one of his more docile roles and succeeding in making Farmer win our hearts. Minor roles make use of the talents of Tim Blake Nelson, J.K. Simmons, Sal Lopez and Kiersten Warren among others. The pleasure of this fantasy film is the lack of need for computer-generated animation: the magic is in the warmth of the characters and their dreams. This is a fine little film for a large, sensitive audience. Grady Harp, August 07
Movie Review: Do we no longer dare to dream?
Summary: 4 Stars
Look, the logistics and expense of building an actual rocket (in a dairy barn, of all places)--and then launching it--are as preposterous and as farfetched as an elephant speaking French.
But that's not the point.
Here's the point. During one particularly frustrating moment in THE ASTRONAUT FARMER, Billy Bob's character (appropriately named Charlie Farmer) laments that when he was a child, he was told (as all children in America are told) that he could be anything--or do anything--he dared to dream about. Only. . .that's not the case. Today, if one dares to explore space as a private citizen, one will draw the ire of the FAA, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the scorn and ridicule of everyone else. In other words, we as a society have successfully limited ourselves by obstacles of political correctness, and this film is a marvelous metaphor shouting this incontrovertible from the dusty Texas plains.
Charlie Farmer dares to dream, and in the course of fulfilling that dream almost loses his family--and everything he owns. Charlie becomes a pariah, some sort of vagabond anomaly--even to his own wife (Virginia Madsen is a handsome lass)--yet the dream prevails. And despite the nutty, laugh-out-loud zaniness as Charlie builds his rocket ship (who knew you could find a used Gemini capsule at the old Five & Dime?), we marvel at the persistence of Charlie and his dream. . .a persistence that is finally rewarded in a feel-good ending.
Billy Bob Thornton is very likable; Virginia Madsen looks good; Bruce Dern is strangely subdued; Bruce Willis makes a brief cameo and has a beer. Yet the cast is only a cumulative messenger; and the message conveyed by THE ASTRONAUT FARMER: Dare to dream. Then do the unthinkable. Dare to fulfill your dream.
--D. Mikels, Author, Walk-On
Movie Review: It is true, gravity cannot hold down our dreams.
Summary: 4 Stars
More than ten years ago I wrote a book about a dreamer. Tonight I watched a movie about one. I read all the reviews about this movie, both good and bad. This is a good movie.
The key to enjoying this movie is believing in dreams. When John F. Kennedy first uttered those words about putting a man on the moon, many people thought he was crazy. His dream allowed Neil Armstrong to walk on the moon in 1969.
NASA and the Russian space agency may have been the forefathers of space travel, but the future is in OUR hands and based on OUR dreams. That is one reason why there are fledging private space agencies now. No one government will ever lead us beyond the moon, to other planets and beyond. It will be the dreams, hard word and intelligence of the ordinary man and woman that will get us there. It is our destiny.
Enjoy this movie for what it is; one man and one family's dreams of doing something extraordinary. Movies like this can inspire us to dream. That is what will pave our way into the future.
Movie Review: Out of this world family film
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a solid family movie about faith and hope and it was a box office dud. For all the complaining out there about the lack of family values entertainment, exactly how could a movie like this do so poorly? I certainly hope this was a fluke.
No nudity. No real profanity to speak of.
This film features a close knit family, a supportive wife and grand father, two little daughters who love their daddy and also his life long dream to launch into orbit with his own privately built rocket constructed on his Texas ranch.
By the way, this is basically a fantasy but the director evidently does not think so, as you will happily discover if you get a chance to see it)
If you can relate to the concept of unshakable faith in yourself against all odds, and would be willing to let two of the most adorable little daughters this side of Jupiter steal your heart away for 104 minutes, then this movie was made for you.
How so very odd it is to be inspired by the unbelievable. Or maybe not so odd after all?
Movie Review: The Dreamer Set
Summary: 4 Stars
In order to truly enjoy this movie you must have at least been a dreamer at one time. Non-dreamers will slam it as they have no imagination. But if you can imagine a person wrapping their existence around a dream you will probably find it entertaining. If you enjoyed "The World's Fastest Indian", Second Hand Lions", "Tucker", and "Field of Dreams" you will probably enjoy it. Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen are in good form as husband and wife farm family trying to make the bills and build a rocket to reach out to space. The dream that most people have had at some time. The only problem is the government agencies that see this as a threat to their power and possibly funding. If you have never bothered to think about how you would like to go up in a space shuttle, then don't waste your time seeing this movie. You have to have the dream to want to see how it can be realized. Great characters and story. A family friendly movie. I recommend this movie as a purchase if you enjoy movies about dreamers and doers.