Don’t make that same mistake. This is a lovely film about following your dreams, and what happens when you decide to let those dreams die. It doesn’t just affect you; it affects the people around you who love you, or even just like you, who had a share of those dreams, too.
First, it’s important to know that this isn’t about a farmer who wants to be an astronaut. It’s about a man named Farmer, who’s a cattle rancher, but who was an astronaut, or at least came close. He was an aeronautical engineer who left the astronaut program to return home when his father committed suicide. Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) married and raised a family, but didn’t completely give up on his dream of going into space. Instead, he used his knowledge to build a functioning rocket out of parts he bought, scrounged, salvaged, etc.
The early part of the film shows how thoroughly Farmer’s family has bought into the idea that he will fly his rocket into space. His wife, Audie (Virginia Madsen), is fully behind his plan. So are his three children, especially his son Shep (Max Thieriot), who’s his mission control officer. Even Audie’s father, Hal (Bruce Dern), is supportive. As for the folks in town, they mostly take it with a grain of salt, but it’s all pretty good natured.
Authority comes calling when they learn that Farmer is trying to buy a large quantity of very high grade fuel. They threaten him with jail; one of his old astronaut buddies, played by Bruce Willis, comes out to try to first talk him out of his plan and then threaten him as well. But that doesn’t stop Farmer, with frightening, intensely sad, results.
The rest of the film is about why dreams are important, and why they’re worth fighting for. It’s a message worth watching, especially when it’s communicated by a solid group of actors. Thornton’s well suited to the role of a family man who’s just a bit different from the ordinary; Madsen does a nice job with the wife who starts out as a supporter and becomes a prodder. Thieriot will make you ache for the son whose dreams die along with his father’s.
The Astronaut Farmer was directed by Michael Polish from a script he and his brother Mark co-wrote. Mark also appears in the film, and so do his and Michael’s daughters, so there’s some family feel there.
The DVD includes a making-of featurette that explains the great care that went into putting the film together, especially in trying to get the technical details right. It includes interviews with major cast and crew members; you’ll get to hear Madsen talk about the chemistry between her and Thornton, which is interesting. (For what it’s worth, he doesn’t go on about it to nearly the extent that she does.) There’s also an interview (separate from the making of) with former astronaut David Scott, who comments on the authenticity of the film. There’s also a bloopers and outtakes reel featuring much good natured cussing.
Technical specs: English, French and Spanish subtitles; closed-captioned; Dolby Digital sound.
The Astronaut Farmer is a great watch-at-home film, and one that would be good to watch with preteen and teenaged kids, especially to open a conversation on life choices and how what one person chooses to do affects those around them. Don’t make the mistake of assuming you know what this film’s about and overlooking it; it’s far deeper than you might guess from the silly title.