The Astronaut Farmer
Dismissed from NASA’s space program, former astronaut-in-training Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) pursues his lifelong dream by building his own rocket. On the eve of his launch, Farmer must battle foreclosure on his ranch and a small-town community of disbelievers, while simultaneously drawing heavy scrutiny and surveillance from the FBI, CIA, FAA and the U.S. military, all of which see him as a potential risk to civilian safety and will take the necessary steps to shut down his operation. But he remains determined to reach his goal and instill in his children the courage to pursue their own dreams, no matter the odds.
Member Reviews
astro-nut farmer - portcat
I found this movie very corny. The underlying idea for the story was a good one--that's why I zipped it--but the actually movie was very far fetched. A fellow town citizen refered to him as an astro-'nut'. I heartily agree. This movie was quite unrealistic. How in the world did the barn not barn up when he took off??!!?? And when the communication was restored after he found his wedding band? Way too "after school special". Sorry if I spoiled the story for some but it was just way too awful!Dreaming Life Together - ZetaC
Bruce Dern's line to Billy Bob Thornton - delivered as his laconic and lovable father-in-law - "You got your family to dream together, and that's BIG stuff." IS the linchpin of this movie. Watching this one may suspend your disbelief to the point of breaking, but it's worth the stretch, because in that taught tension lies a story of beautiful simplicity and truth. We spend our energies in our lives making our dreams fit our lives when we could be using the same efforts to make our lives fit our dreams. It's a goal no one wants to pursue, but the folks who made this movie do, I believe. Technically I found no fault with this film, and artistically - from the humor to the pathos - it was more than fine. It's not often that a Hollyweird film is so completely family friendly and still profoundly moving. Give it a try, you might dream a bit, too.I don't believe. - cathyottawa
I didn't like Charlie Farmer, the guy who built his own rocket out in the barn. I didn't admire his tireless pursuit of his dream, and I didn't find him heroic.
Why? Because he's pursuing his dream to the detriment of his family. They're flat broke. They're about to lose their farm, and he wants to spend $50 000 on rocket fuel? (And they never did explain how: a) one guy could build a rocket that would take hundreds of NASA engineers to put together, and b) how this broke farmer found the money for this multi million dollar machine.)
But this is a movie about *sigh* following your dreams! So his wife is perfectly understanding, and his kids are cute as can be and love their daddy, and gosh darn it, he's going to follow his dream!
This movie just demonstrates for me the problem today with the "you can do whatever you want in life!" mentality that we teach our kids. You know what? Sometimes you can't do whatever you want. Sometimes dreams are unobtainable, or unrealistic. And maybe it's better to prepare our kids for the real world, instead of telling them they can be the next Britney Spears, or the next NBA star, or the next Wayne Gretzky.
If this movie were in the real world, even if we accept that this guy built this rocket, there's no way the US Government would let him launch it. But all obstacles in this movie miraculously get fixed. Because if you have a dream, and you follow your dream, your dream will always come true!! Whatever.
Member Reviews
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astro-nut farmer - portcat
I found this movie very corny. The underlying idea for the story was a good one--that's why I zipped it--but the actually movie was very far fetched. A fellow town citizen refered to him as an astro-'nut'. I heartily agree. This movie was quite unrealistic. ...Dreaming Life Together - ZetaC
Bruce Dern's line to Billy Bob Thornton - delivered as his laconic and lovable father-in-law - "You got your family to dream together, and that's BIG stuff." IS the linchpin of this movie. Watching this one may suspend your disbelief to the point of breaking, ...I don't believe. - cathyottawa
I didn't like Charlie Farmer, the guy who built his own rocket out in the barn. I didn't admire his tireless pursuit of his dream, and I didn't find him heroic.
Why? Because he's pursuing his dream to the detriment of his family. They're flat broke. ...