Jun 20, 2008 no, charlie farmer is the main character in the film the astronaut farmer, apparently he is supposedly based on the real life astronaut, alan shepard, but i think this is just a play on words. Liftoff for the astronaut farmer photo 12 pictures. May 28, 2005 lets get to the movie here real quick because i want to get some comment on that. The astronaut farmer 2006 directed by michael polish. As a large, tasty helping of pure western americana i dont doubt for a minute that this film will be a huge hit in japan. Critics complained about mistakes in terms of the rocket. Though he faces foreclosure on his ranch, the disbelief of his neighbors and threats from the government, charles remains determined to reach for the stars. In the scene where charles farmer asks the employee of dunkin dounts for advertising on his rocket, the shot shows farmer in front of a large glass window in front of a graveyard with a short chain link fence around it. Real life influences shepard, the son in the movie, is named after alan shepard, the first american in space. The astronaut farmer fits in neither category comfortably. He had the technology and the nerve but was having trouble finding a plac from which to launch because the ffa was having a cow about it.
Get ready for takeoff when the astronaut farmer launches on demand july 10th. A dropout from nasas astronaut training program, hes been trying for years to build a rocket with which to launch himself into orbit. Needless to relate, its simply not true that the lonewolf entrepreneur can inevitably beat the. Totally uplifting film, indeed quasi japanese space flick storyline focused on bible belt usa,,100% wholesome goodness, for a family movie. In the new film billy bob thornton stars as charles farmer, an astronaut forced to leave the corps to save his familys ranch. The astronaut farmer successfully develops beautiful fatherdaughter and fatherson relationships. Sure the plot is farfetchedbut somewhat endearingly so. The only people to ever make it into space so far are the national space agencies and commercial enterprises.
Texan charles farmer left the air force as a young man to save the family ranch when his dad died. They also are the authors with jonathan sheldon of the declaration of independent filmmaking. Academy award winner billy bob thornton and academy award nominee virginia madsen star in this inspiring, uplifting and heartwarming story of one familys quest for the stars. The astronaut farmer is a charming, inspirational drama that successfully. Jan 08, 2009 its not based on a real story but has real life influences. Feb 26, 2007 the astronaut farmer fits in neither category comfortably. Thorntons character cant give up his dream of space travel, however, and the film follows his efforts to build a rocket in his barn that he hopes will carry him finally into orbit. From the very first shot of thornton on horseback, herding stray cattle in his spacesuit, this is a work that often feels orchestrated instead of inspired, literal rather than ethereal. He builds a rocket in his barn and plans to pilot it into space. From the time he was a child, charles farmer thornton had only one goal. If you met farmer in real life would you be like his son, shepard and adore him, or be like audie. A strongerparallel between the film and real life is far subtler.
The astronaut farmer a tough row to hoe seti institute. Farmerssuccess or failure is based on his belief in a dream. Ultimately, though, the astronaut farmer doesnt quite rise above its cliches. Billy bob thornton stars as former astronaut charles farmer in the astronaut farmer, opening in theaters on feb.
Even so, he still pursues his real dream of launching into space, orbiting earth, and returning safely. Charles farmer astronaut true story farmer foto collections. The astronaut farmer is a 2006 american drama film directed by michael polish, who cowrote the screenplay with his brother mark. Jun 21, 2008 is the movie astronaut farmer based on a true story. In the new filmbilly bob thornton stars as charles farmer, an astronaut forced to leave the corps to save his familys ranch.
What can you tell us about astronaut farmer thats coming out. Billy bob thornton interviewed the astronaut farmer. Throughout his long distinguished career with nasa he never got the chance to go into space but has always dreamed of it. Charles farmer billy bob thornton is a former aerospace engineer turned jet pilot who wanted to be astronaut but was compelled to take up ranching in order to save the family business. Was there a man name charlie farmer a astronaut answers. Mercuryatlas rocket takes center stage in astronaut farmer.
The real problem with the astronaut farmer is that it has no spark. The astronaut farmer is a 2006 american drama film directed by michael polish, who cowrote the screenplay with his brother mark the story focuses on charles farmer, a former astronautintraining who was discharged from the military before he could fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut. A nasa astronaut, forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never. Download or stream from your apple tv, roku, smart tv, computer or portable device. The astronaut farmer also pulls out just about every small town and government worker stereotype in the book. The astronaut farmer buy, rent or watch on fandangonow.
From a real world engineering standpoint, the movie doesnt stand up to scrutiny, but it is dramatically effective. Mercury astronaut launch in the right stuff movie cut, 1983 duration. The film stars billy bob thornton, virginia madsen, bruce dern, and max thieriot. Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members its free and quick. The intelligently oddball polish brothers, who wrote, directed and produced the astronaut farmer, never quite settle that question. Their ambiguity about farmer nutjob, consistent with the naturally ambiguous performance by actor nutjob billy bob thornton, gives their movie an appealing. It is a metaphor for those who dare to dreamer and take a chance and the rocket is the background. His father died and he had to come home and take care of the ranch and family and everything. Too unbelievable to be real and not charming enough to be good fantasy. The astronaut farmer is the story of a dreamer the astronaut farmer 2006 starring billy bob thornton, virginia madsen with cameos by bruce dern and bruce willis, directed. Watch the astronaut farmer online 2007 movie yidio. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. The fbi puts him under surveillance when he tries to buy rocket fuel, and the faa stalls him when he files a flight plan. The main character is charles farmer billy bob thornton, who was a washedup astronaut.
Also, you can watch sams interview with stars billy bob thornton and virginia madsen and retired astronaut rick searfoss. Were taking a look at the astronaut farmer a movie about big. This movie stars tom hanks, which movie won him many awards. The astronaut farmer 2006 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Unlike most, hes an astrophysicist with a rocket in his barn one hes built and wants to take into space. Is the movie astronaut farmer based on a true story. Astronaut farmer is not about space or rockets, fuel mix, thrust vectors, acceleration curves, descent trajectory, or entry apogee. In the new filmbilly bob thornton stars as charles farmer, an astronaut.
After you create your account, youll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new postsday with fewer ads. The astronaut farmer features one of the loopiest, looniest premises ever to grace a mainstream american movie. Sam, 14, recommends this this movie as an enjoyable and inspirational story. By day, he works on his ranch sometimes wearing his space suit. Its not based on a real story but has real life influences. On the face of it, its the brothers most familyfriendly movie yet and a traditional tale of an average american who dreams big and. The story follows an eccentric farmer who dreams of space travel and sets out to build a rocket inside his barn. It wants to be a schmaltzy, heartwarming, triumph of the little man tale, but despite horrible, cloying schmaltz pouring out of every orifice, fails miserably by giving us one of the most intensely dislikeable central characters ive ever seen.
The shot of the employee is the inside of the real dunkin donuts in santa fe, new mexico. Is the movie astronaut farmer based on a true story answers. The astronaut farmer never achieves lift off the boston globe. You can also have an outofthisworld conversation with nasa astronaut david scott part of an audio commentary, learn how to build a rocket a makingof featurette and watch the movies promotional trailer. Too odd for a studio movie, too cornpone for the independent scene, the astronaut farmer. Billy bob thornton and kathleen arc in the astronaut farmer 2006 bruce willis and. Featuring a strong cast that includes billy bob thornton, virginia madsen, tim blake nelson, and bruce willis, the film has some great performances. The astronaut farmer is a compelling case study on whether or not its really. Asked in horror and suspense movies, the texas chainsaw massacre movies. Astronaut farmer billy bob thornton and virginia madsen directed by the polish brothers was originally panned when released. Plus, a devoted married couple makes it all the way through the storyline without cheating, splitting up or dying. Hands down, the sweet portrayal of the farmer familys relationships with each other are the best thing about this movie. The plot is about a texas rancher who attempts to construct a rocket in his barn and launch himself into outer space. A former astronaut who had to leave the space program to tend to family issues, charlie farmer billy bob thornton still wants to be an astronaut in the worst way.
The brothers cowrote their newest movie, michael directed it, and mark produced and acted in it. Billy bob thornton as charles farmer in the astronaut farmer. Farmer ssuccess or failure is based on his belief in a dream. Charles farmer billy bob thornton, a rancher who once trained to be an astronaut, decides to fulfill a lifelong dream. A middleaged rancher named farmer you know a movie s heading into seriously pretentious waters when it starts dispensing heavily allegorical names to its characters, has decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of flying into outer. Dismissed from nasas space program, former astronautintraining charles.
A middleaged rancher named farmer you know a movies heading into seriously pretentious waters when it starts dispensing heavily allegorical names to its characters, has decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of flying into outer. Feb 23, 2007 the real problem with the astronaut farmer is that it has no spark. From the very first shot of thornton on horseback, herding stray cattle in his spacesuit, this is a work that often. In this low budget, but lovingly made movie, farmer billy bob thornton is building a genuine, state of the art real shiny, rocket ship, right in his own backyard. The astronaut farmer is a good film to watch with your family. The astronaut farmer is the quintessential american story. Texas dad builds a rocket and shoots for orbit the. The film is good to watch, but it doesnt do anything new or original with the script. Texas dad builds a rocket and shoots for orbit the denver post. Watch the astronaut farmer online stream full movie. On the face of it, its the brothers most familyfriendly movie yet and a traditional tale of. If the astronaut farmer had been based on a true story, it might have some quirkierthanfiction appeal. A middleaged rancher named farmer you know a movies heading into seriously pretentious waters when it starts dispensing heavily allegorical names to its characters, has decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of flying into outer space. Even when he is forced to drop out of nasas astronaut training p.
Academy award winner billy bob thornton and academy award nominee virginia madsen star in this inspiring, uplifting. The film fitfully evokes a real sense of wonder, notably during a sequence, one of the films best, in which farmer receives a visit from an old colleague nicely played in a surprise cameo by one of thorntons armageddon spacecowboy costars. A darker version of the movie would explore farmers dream as a death wish, probing whether it is a hero or a coward who risks probable. As the astronaut farmer, a new movie from writerproducer brothers mark and michael polish, opens, things already are going pretty badly. The cast and crew of the astronaut farmer pose with former astronaut buzz aldrin at the premiere of the warner bros. Astronaut farmer is about a retired nasa scientist played by billy bob thornton, who plays farmer, who is trying to save the family farm. Sharing screen time with him is a 50foot, nearlyscale replica of nasas. The astronaut farmer on dvd july 10, 2007 starring billy bob thornton, virginia madsen, bruce willis, bruce dern. The united states congress passed the commercial space launch amendments act in 2004 3. The astronaut farmer is one of those movies that makes an audience want to cheer and clap. The best movie franchises to binge watch while under quarantine.
The astronaut farmer crash lands on dvd with a collection of clipshighlights, bloopers and outtakes. Well, i play this guy charles farmer who is in the nasa program to be an astronaut. No, despite the rumors it is not based on a real life story. But none of that is the reason this movie ultimately falls to earth like an expensive chunk of space debris. An insiders guide to making movies outside of hollywood.
1396 370 448 364 1103 1490 83 465 487 1412 522 667 635 1514 332 913 359 1009 966 1467 988 687 661 41 1058 888 487 1031 1509 344 362 1243 1010 139 825 1546 473 842 598 744 494 1029 595 1032 549