The Astronaut Farmer Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
If we don't have our dreams, we have nothing.
Texan Charles Farmer left the Air Force as a young man to save the family ranch when his dad died. Like most American ranchers, he owes his bank. Unlike most, he's an astrophysicist with a rocket in his barn - one he's built and wants to take into space. It's his dream. The FBI puts him under surveillance when he tries to buy rocket fuel; the FAA stalls him when he files a flight plan - it's post-9/11, after all. His wife is angry when she finds out their bank is initiating foreclosure. Charlie fears failure and decides, precipitously, to launch. Are twenty-first century American dreams just a sign of insanity? Are those who believe in dreamers only fools?
| Billy Bob Thornton | Charles Farmer |
| Virginia Madsen | Audrey 'Audie' Farmer |
| Max Thieriot | Shepard Farmer |
| Jasper Polish | Stanley Farmer |
| Logan Polish | Sunshine Farmer |
| Bruce Dern | Hal |
| Mark Polish | FBI Agent Mathis |
| Jon Gries | FBI Agent Killbourne |
| Tim Blake Nelson | Kevin Munchak |
| Sal Lopez | Pepe Garcia |
| J.K. Simmons | FAA Director Jacobson |
| Kiersten Warren | Phyllis |
| Rick Overton | Arnold 'Arnie' Milan |
| Richard Edson | Deputy Chopper Miller |
| Elise Eberle | Madison Roberts |
| Michael Polish |
6.60 out of 10 (1301 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Enjoyable even with the technical flaws
posted on 24 Aug 2009I saw this one at a sneak preview. I liked it but you have to ignore the technical and scientific inaccuracies and just remember that it's only a movie. This movie did remind me of the show "Salvage 1" which I liked when it was on even though that show wasn't technically feasible either. I did find it amusing that when the rocket is finally launched, it doesn't become a major media event. I thought it was refreshing to see Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen have starring roles in a family friendly movie for a change. The supporting cast was good except for Bruce Dern's character. His talent could have been used better. Some of the profanity could have been left out also which would have made it a little more family friendly. But overall it was an entertaining movie about never giving up on your dreams.
Best Family Movie of 2007
posted on 20 Aug 2009I order it today of on demand for 3.95 and i am looking to buy this movie. Billy Bob Thornton puts on a awesome performance and the cameo performance by Bruce Willis was also great I don't understand why he isn't credited. But this movie shows that nothing is impossible. But a guy who builds a rocket in a barn and a mission control in a trailer. Seems impossible but you never know. It only made 10.7 million in teathers which i think is to poor advertising i saw just 2 commercials for this movie but came out eight on last weeks rentals wen each blockbuster has only 10 copies but buy this movie 20 dollars is worth i promise you u wont waist a penny.
farmer Astronaut
posted on 20 Aug 2009This is a great film for all family to watch. A farmer who left Nasa because his family needed him but he never left his dream behind. He builts a rocket to fly high in the sky, into space.What is wonderful about this film, is how it is in life today and sometimes with family, it doesn't happen. The farmer, gets the support of his wife, his children who love and look upto their father and believes in him. The other side of the coin, this support from the wife didn't really become a real belief in him until later on.His banker, the people in his village, Nassa, government try to persuade, and even hinder his chances, pressurising him. This happens in our lives too - when you have a dream, and for some who forgot their dream, whether friends, or families, or tabloids - they will make fun of you. And yet, deep inside they want to believe.This is not a true story but I wish it was, which is why I was going to give it a 9 instead of a 10, but, because it holds close to the truth about how it is in this life, and people, and their hypocrisy, but also, the beauty of when close friends and family believe in you, and the message of how important it is to hold onto our dreams - I give it a ten.I pray, and hope, when people watch it, they really do look at their own lives and their dreams. You may fly to the moon but you may do something else, and if so, dream and hold onto it and make it happen. No matter how long it takes. I liked the film a lot.
Motivational movie, started great, ended a bit off
posted on 08 Aug 2009If this movie had the same feeling and quality of film throughout as it had in the first half, I would have rated it 8, maybe even 9. It shows a guy trying to build a huge rocket to go into space with. He was an astronautical engineer, but he quit just when he could have gotten on a space mission because his father killed himself. Determined not to be a quitter like his dad, he keeps fighting overwhelming odds to build his rocket.Now this, combined with the acting and directing skills of Billy Bob Thornton, gave a great feeling to the movie. You could feel the drama and huge intellectual impact this story is going to have on you. Then everything went sour. Science was thrown down the hatch, defeated by the obnoxious desire to give the movie a happy ending. The entire moral of the movie was switched from "follow your dream well and you might reach it" to "follow your dream blindly and you just gotta make it".Therefore the first half of the movie : 8, the last half 6. Total: an average 7.
Total c**p, like every movie with Bruce Willis...
posted on 27 Jul 2009This thing is about as "real" as old Bugs Bunny cartoon.Physics in it _TOTALLY_ sucks, to mention just one thing.In real world there are many teams competing to make a vehicle capable of suborbital trip, and _NONE_ of them is: - is to be developed AND LAUNCHED for mere $600K. This kind of money wouldn't cover crew's expenses for coffee and sandwiches - developed by one guy, driven just by his desire to fly - succeeded 100% with the first flight, without massive prototyping etc.Even smallest vehicles are built with hundred times more of discipline and testing than this "rocket".If you want to see how it's really done, take a peek for example at Armadillo aerospace. ( http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home ) I really wish to just once to see at least _ONE_ movie from Hollywood about science/technology that wouldn't be so moronic.This c** didn't make it past my eyes without triggering all bull**it alarms, so my eyes hurt even when I tried to "sleep" while watching it...
See this film. Take the kids. Teachers recommend this to students!
posted on 03 Jul 2009I saw this last night, opening weekend. Missed part of the Academy Awards to see this film, but caught all the Oscar details later anyway. This movie is a wonderful feel good film with great heart. It's rated PG, do take the kids -- and you will enjoy it, too. It is not a kids flick, adults and teenagers will get a kick out of it. Encourage others to see the film. Good movies like this deserve to be supported! The message to have dreams and go for them is the theme and the movie does an outstanding job driving that theme home. Billy Bob and the rest of the characters are well cast. A cameo by Bruce Willis is well done. As I watched the movie I found myself wishing it had been based on a real life story, thus the "9" rating instead of a 10. The cameo by Jay Leno made it feel "real life" to the audience, which was well done! The world needs more positive role models for kids, teens and yes, adults, too!
A very good film
posted on 01 Jul 2009This is one of those films that you don't hear much about and probably won't see unless someone else tells you about it, which is unfortunate because this film deserves more credit that its been given.The basic storyline about a man who builds his own rocket is probably something each and every one of us has either thought about or dreamt of whilst growing up. The difference here is that this film tries to connect that story into modern day life with everyday values - it's not a fantasy film and its not an action film.Having said that, I think most people who watch this will stay to the end because the story jumps right in at the beginning, unlike some other films which have terribly long run-ins and character development that can bore you before the "good stuff".When Farmer crashes his rocket and almost kills himself I genuinely thought that this would be the outcome of the film but the real ending was one of those feel-good moments that make this film so worth watching.In short, an easy going film suitable for all ages that will make you laugh, cry and ultimately leave you with a sense of achievement in your heart for Charles Farmer.Enjoy.
an interesting movie...sort of
posted on 01 Jul 2009I'm going to have to vote 5 stars, the middle of the road on this one. It wasn't that good, but it wasn't that bad, either. I understood the man's desire to follow his dream, but found it irritating how crazily he pursued it, to the point of arguing with his family, and almost losing their property. I mean, I have dreams,too, we all do, but the more unrealistic ones just simply have to go on the back burner. I mean, that's reality. Of course, this IS a movie, and it was a refreshing twist that this man gets to do what he wanted. I must say when he crashes the rocket the first time I thought it was going to be a dream sequence, but it wasn't, so that nixed the predictablity factor- I liked that. I was wondering if that was going to be the end, but then he builds it again and goes into space. I thought it was a bit weird how easily and conveniently he was able to come back home and they just drive to come get him. I thought that was a bit far fetched.... what if he had landed farther away, like in another country? LOL! I could go on and on, anyone with any knowledge of astronomy and how things work will tell you this is far fetched to say the least, but again it's a 'tale'. Also, before I go, the movie seemed WAY longer than it's posted run time. It's okay. Nothing wrong with following your dreams. :)
My family loved this movie
posted on 25 Jun 2009The key here is my family, that a big score for being able to sit through a movie these days with my son and husband and each of us being able to speak highly of it in the end.Being a space enthusiast for years it was enjoyable to watch a man and his family pursue his dreams of orbiting the earht without the NASA price tag. Billy Bob Thorton and Viginia Madsen did a fabulous job of portraying and "average" if not slightly crazy family. We left the movie with my son asking a million questions about the space race, history and the goverments willingness to hold back on individuals dreams.If you're looking for a movie that's fun for the family, not animated and without talking animals this is the one. Sweet and humorous it's one for our home theater.
I have not seen this movie yet BUTT
posted on 11 Jun 2009The premise reminds me of a TV movie that became a series back in the 70s called Salvage, Andy Griffith played a junkman whos dream it was to go to the moon and salvage the stuff that NASA left behind and bring it back to sell it, so he builds a rocket ship from parts and equipment that NASA abandoned years before, he hires former NASA Mission control experts and a former astronaut and puts his dream in motion but because of I believe a health issue he does not get to go to the moon and sends the former astronaut and a woman instead, This was a great TV movie in my opinion and this new movie asetronaut farmer makes me think of the TV movie SALVAGE, BTW it did become a TV series but didn't last long.
Horse Rocket Man Arrived
posted on 11 Jun 2009Horse marines belong to the distant past, now we live in the times of horse astronauts. First Rudolf Erich Raspe made Baron Munchhausen ride a cannonball then Jules Verne shot his heroes from the cannon to the moon and now this. Can you imagine an impoverished farmer building a space ship in the shack in his backyard? If so then tell your spouse: "Darling, no more fancy things, no more nice kitchen gadgets, next month I'll start constructing an interstellar rocket" and then watch for reaction. The only good thing about this film is that it often becomes unintentionally funny and at times it even turns into a trash comic strip. And I'll tell you a secret - hope that CIA won't get me - if you want some rocket fuel then mix equally kerosene with herbicide and use plenty of chickenshit as an oxidant, they say it's rich in saltpeter. To make a tall story short if you want a ride with an incorrigible space cadet then jump in right now.
Excellent!!!!!!
posted on 07 Jun 2009This film was excellent and it exceeded my expectations. I was not able to see this film in theaters, so I waited for this film to come out on DVD. Since I am a big fan of these kind of movies, I was intrigued of the thought of this movie. The plot was great. The plot is about a man played by Billy Bob Thornton and he builds a homemade rocket that he plans to launch into space. I really liked that idea. In the small acting cast, they were all great. I give credit to the Polish brothers on their directing. I liked the score as well. Some people say that the score does not fit well with the film because the score is way too happy. The only good-feeling themes were played during the happy scenes. This movie was one of best films of 2007. I highly recommend this movie for all ages. I gave this delightful film a 10/10. Let's Blast Off!!!!!
Not Exactly the Right Stuff
posted on 05 Jun 2009This surreal family film is a melange of gee-whiz individualism and corn-pone family nightmare. My 10-year-old daughter was caught up in the story, rooting for an odd family devoted to a father's dream -- or is it a flat-out delusion on the part of a failed astronaut? Late in the second act, the mother has a showdown with her husband over financial realities, injecting a welcome sense of everyday life that overtakes this grown man's fantasy. Along the way, there were several scenes where the hero father is clearly deranged. But somehow, the edge of desperation in Billy Bob Thornton's performance lends ballast to a story that would not be remotely credible to modern audiences. I can't imagine anyone else pulling it off. In a just world, this caliber of acting would win Billy Bob an Oscar.SPOILER ALERT: the movie is not content to launch one rocket, but insists on launching two. The first takeoff doesn't go so well, and the outcome is so unrelentingly freakish and violent that I kept expecting it to be a pre-launch nightmare. But no. I'm including this note only because very young viewers will be frightened, and adults will probably lose all sympathy for the wacky astronaut who endangers his family, blowing out every window in his house while trying to launch a weapons-grade rocket from the barn next door.After all these complaints, why do I award this movie an '8' rating? First of all, Billy Bob Thornton may have the role of his career. And I enjoyed how the Polish brothers riff on The Right Stuff mixed with David Lynch, while adding a dash of Spielberg schmaltz. The directors have concocted a Disney crowd pleaser with dark, surreal undertones. In other words: you ain't seen nothing quite like 'The Astronaut Farmer.' In its own peculiar way, this movie may become a classic.
Field of Dreams meets October Sky
posted on 26 May 2009I saw this wonderfully charming family movie tonight at a free preview in Washington, DC.The Polish brothers and the Warner Brothers, taking a cue from Walden Media, have hit the family movie sweet spot with this fun, engaging film. I'm giving it an 8 on the basis of pure solid family entertainment value.(If this movie were a car it would probably be a Toyota Camry)At the start of the screening, Billy Bob Thorton proudly (and accurately, IMHO) characterized this film as a feel-good Frank Capraesque popcorn flick - the sort of film that would have been on the "A" side of a double bill back in the days of his youth.Billy Bob and Virginia Madsen do terrific jobs with their characters. I think the timelessly beautiful Ms. Madsen is particularly effective as Farmer's patient, loving, and somewhat exasperated wife.(and if I were Stephen Colbert interviewing Billy Bob Thorton, I would probably ask this question - "Virginia Madsen: hot co-star, or *the hottest* co-star?").The story and the arc of the film bring strong elements of "Field of Dreams" and "October Sky" to mind; but absent the mysticism of the former and the somewhat dysfunctional family dynamics of the latter. As a large, tasty helping of pure western Americana I don't doubt for a minute that this film will be a huge hit in Japan.This movie pays light homage to films like "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13." Space fanatics, rocket scientists, and other members of the pocket-protector crowd might experience a few "oh please, you've got to be kidding" moments, but because of its charm, likable characters, and strong acting, this movie requires a lot less disbelief suspension than a film like, oh I don't know, let's say "Armageddon," for example.Speaking of baby-boomer asteroid wranglers, I was also pleasantly surprised to see Bruce Willis in a small, but key supporting role. I think it's really great when skilled, immensely watchable actors lend their talents to bright young film makers. At the Q&A after the film it was revealed that Bruce took the role as a favor to the Polish brothers and that he essentially worked for free. It was nice of him to do that.All of the other members of the well-casted supporting ensemble (including some young members of the Polish tribe) delivered solid performances as well.I won't give you a synopsis of the film here (others are better than me at that sort of thing); but I will tell you that I plan to take my wife and 4, 7, and 12 year old kids to see this film for the pure joy of watching a fun, happy, and slightly quirky movie together as a family.
Try the impossible !
posted on 04 May 2009Every once in awhile a movie comes along that it is difficult to neatly fit into a film category. Such a film is " The Astronaut Farmer". Not exactly a comedy, not exactly a sci-fi adventure, not exactly a family film, not exactly a fairy tale. Perhaps the best way to describe "The Astronaut Farmer" is it is all of the above. The film will most likely be under-appreciated by many, but for those who ever had dreams of attempting the impossible, this movie will be an inspiration. The character development and acting is good. Suspend disbelief, and let this film carry you into Billy Bob Thornton's dream. You just might enjoy the ride. - MERK
Changes identity midway through; Stops working after that.
posted on 23 Mar 2009Since we've lived through the very beginning of commercialized spaceflight, the notion of an engineer and former astronaut trying to build a working rocket and space vehicle in his barn isn't that difficult to entertain, on one condition. The ATTEMPT makes for a good story, but so long as the film takes itself at all seriously, the man shouldn't be able to actually succeed. The first half of this picture is an interesting film about a man, Farmer, who is putting the finishing touches on a Mercury-Atlas style rocket, complete with capsule and what looks like a surplus Mercury project spacesuit (which he wears positively everywhere that he goes, much like a five-year-old carting around a favorite stuffed-animal). His family believes in him seemingly because it's more fun to entertain his fantasy than it is to rain on his parade, his neighbors are taking bets on whether or not he'll die much less succeed, the government is investigating him ever since he tried to obtain 10,000 gallons of rocket fuel (two awkward FBI agents are inserted for comic relief, and the FAA plays the heavy with threats to shoot him down) but no one except for Farmer himself authentically feels that he'll ever launch. Up to this point, the film is kind of like Fitzcarraldo with a booster rather than a steamship -- you don't believe he'll pull it off, but you keep watching to see just how he'll fail. And, had he actually failed, even if he'd given up after his first fantastic, life and property endangering horizontal launch, the film would have worked as an inspiring story about a genius with a crazy dream who knowingly bites off more than anyone can chew, but keeps right on biting.Instead, the film changes direction mid-stream and crams so many suspensions of disbelief into such a short time that it looses whatever credibility that it may have spent the first half gaining. How would a man under investigation by the government for building his own rocket be able to obtain another junk booster for his second attempt? How could Farmer completely rebuild his rocket from scratch in such a short time period that his very young girls don't look noticeably older from project start to project finish? How would a barn and a house within walking distance survive the launch of an Atlas booster unscathed? How could a fifteen-year old boy single-handedly man both launch control and mission control for an orbital flight, AND maintain contact with a spacecraft on the far side of the planet without any help from relay stations over yonder? They go on and on. I guess the biggest question is, why did the writers of this film resort to such a cop-out as suddenly endowing their never-succeed-but-never-give-up main character with the Midas touch, when they've spent half of the film laying out all of the reasons that Farmer's dream really wouldn't work? Maybe they figured we'd have so much fun watching the thing go up that we wouldn't ask these questions. Maybe some watchers will.If you set out to make a fantasy, don't ask us to place it in reality for half the film. If you set out to do a story about a man whose dreams get knocked down again and again, don't suddenly make him inhumanly successful at all he attempts. I liked the first part of this film, but to paraphrase a line from a more famous movie, Flying into space ain't like dusting crops. Depicting it as such takes more suspension of reality than I wanted to give this film.
Not a child pleaser
posted on 23 Mar 2009Hey, I don't have a real problem with the factual possibility of a guy building and launching a rocket ship from his barn. It's a story for gosh sakes. I just want to say this isn't a kids film. My 10-year-old son and I watched half before his lack of enjoyment made us switch to the Disney channel. There is little humor, nor much adventure. The movie is slow, the kid actors distinctly young and peripheral to the action, and the problems that the farmer confronts -- going bankrupt and harsh disagreements with his wife -- are not really kids' stuff, as my son commented. So parents beware, this may not be a kid pleaser. At least it wasn't in my house.
Decent yet comes up short
posted on 01 Mar 2009For years I have asked the question: is there any greater working actor than Billy Bob Thornton? With his ability to pull off both the dramatic and comedic perfectly, sometimes switching from one to the other at a given moment, Thornton is a rarity: a celebrity who is actually known for his strong acting ability.The Astronaut Farmer, Billy Bob Thornton's first drama since 2004's Friday Night Lights, showcases his unlimited acting ability and co-star Virginia Madsen's charm, but ultimately showcases little else. The story, while original, is confused and plays it safe. There was no time during the slightly overly long running time where I felt I couldn't tell what was coming. The plot points were obvious fifteen minutes before they happened. The directing is fairly standard with nothing to really get excited about. Directors Mark and Michael Polish do show up as two amusing FBI Agents, though their work in front of the camera is more impressive than their work behind it. It's not that the directing is poor, it's just not anything of major note. The same goes for the writing. It's acceptable, their are great moments here and there, the dialog occasionally sharp, yet put together as a whole it doesn't leave much of an impression. Recommended for Thornton fans and those looking for some family friendly entertainment. 6/10
Astronaut Farmer;
posted on 21 Feb 2009Based on a true story, isn't it just lovely to see a man follow his dream no matter what? - Lively, funny, engaging, with far to many cliché's - well what can you do - it's Reality. A committed family peruses the father's dream - It's uplifting to see them; the most beautiful wife, amazingly cute little daughters (the two are real sisters and share the director's family name) and an incredible loyal son - sounds almost perfect, right? Well, wait - Add a comic FBI duo, Jay Leno as himself to make it a fun family Matinée. Don't ever stop dreaming? Directed by Michael PolishWriting credits (WGA) Mark Polish (written by) & Michael Polish (written by)Billy Bob Thornton Virginia Madsen Max Thieriot
There is a nice message in there somewhere!
posted on 26 Aug 2009Boy! There are a lot of great reviews for this film and I get where people are coming from. While the idea of being a "dreamer" and wanting to fulfill that dream can be great cinematic stuff, I didn't quite connect.To begin with, we are dropped in the middle of a pretty goofy dream. Suspension of belief is often a requirement I'll go with, but this is way too much to swallow. And I don't especially mean the rocket part. Billy Bob is an ex-almost astronaut, who had to leave and administer to his Father's ranch (sad story!!). So we have an unfulfilled dream. Building a functional Atlas rocket in his barn for $500,000 or so puts his ranch in foreclosure and family in disarray. The cheerful family dinners, rallying around Dad's dream are very heartwarming, but..... give me a break Dad!! He endangers his family, possibly the town folk, for sure the hundreds of reporters standing outside his barn and is breaking about 100 laws. None of the laws matter, because they were created by various "evil" bureaucracies, who don't understand..."its his dream, and without dreams....."!! I'm sorry, but the whole thing was too self centered for me. The writers have a hundred people "jump" out of the way of a runaway rocket, just so we don't get our hero a handful of manslaughter charges. And the pre-launch "marketing campaign", with its blantant product placement, probably helped offset the film's budget, was counterproductive to the message.The movie looks great, the special effects are fine and I still enjoyed the performances. Virginia Madsen has transformed into a pleasure to watch (and is aging so gracefully, I look forward to years of more work), Billy Bob got to tap his less dark side and the kids are an absolute delight. A surprise visit from Bruce Willis was handled well and JK Simmons is always solid.So, an OK try at a message movie. I'll just need my dreamers to stay away from 10,000 lbs of hi-explosive rocket fuel, in a wooden barn.