The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

Director:

Michael Polish

Writers (WGA):

Mark Polish (written by) &
Michael Polish (written by)

Release Date:

23 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

If we don't have our dreams, we have nothing.

Plot:

A NASA astronaut (Thornton), forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never give up his dream of space travel and looks to build his own rocket, despite the government's threats to stop him.

Plot Keywords:

Easter Egg Hunt | Horseshoes | Father Son Relationship | Aeronautics | Square Dance

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 28

3:00 PM

MAX

Cast

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	...	Jacobson
Kiersten Warren	...	Phyllis
Rick Overton	...	Arnold 'Arnie' Millard
Richard Edson	...	Chopper Miller
Elise Eberle	...	Madison Roberts

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic material, peril and language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Germany:6 | USA:PG | Finland:K-3 | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Dunkin' Donuts - 1085 S. Saint Francis Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Polish Brothers Construction

Trivia:

While the movie is set completely in Texas the filming was all done in and around Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: During some shots of the kitchen area a phone book can be seen sitting on the table. The movie takes place in Texas but the phone book is a 2005 New Mexico phone book.

Quotes:

Charles Farmer: When I was a kid, they used to tell me that I could be anything I wanted to be, no matter what... and maybe I am insane, I don't know, but I still believe that.

Movie Connections:

References "Good Morning America" (1975)

Soundtrack:

I Made a Lover's Prayer

Fun story, but don't take it too seriously

Billy Bob Thornton plays an ex-astronaut trainee, now a Texas rancher, who never made it to space, so he builds a rocket in his barn. When he is almost ready and tries to buy rocket fuel the government steps in, meanwhile he's about to lose his farm to the bank.

Bruce Willis has a small role as the best friend from the astronaut program who *did* make it into space, and JK Simmmons is good as the head of the FAA. Bruce Dern's role as Fermer's father-in-law is disappointing. For a while it's unclear as to exactly who he is in relationship to the family.

The Astronaut Farmer pretty decent, if you can suspend your disbelief a little. The science of launching a rocket from an old wooden barn without burning down the barn is rather, ah... questionable at best. However, this is *not* a movie about science, it is a movie about people.

This film is pretty heavy on the relationship angle, my 9 year old daughter was bored during large sections, and getting ancy. Finally there were some good action scenes and she got interested again. I'd say children under the age of 12 wouldn't be very interested in this movie, but there isn't anything inappropriate. No sex, drugs or violence, and very mild language.

If you're just going for the entertainment value, it's wonderful. It has some great laughs, especially a dig on the CIA's ability to locate weapons of mass destruction. And it has a hilariously accurate running commentary on small-town life. If you've ever lived in a small town (I mean a really small town) it is a riot.

The Astronaut Farmer will probably remind you of the 1979 made-for-TV family-night mini-series "Salvage 1", about a junkyard owner who builds a rocket from parts in his salvage yard. This one is far better, even if it does have enough similarities to make you wonder if it's a smarter, cleaner remake.