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Reviews Counted: 130
Fresh: 76
Rotten:54
Average Rating: 6/10
Consensus: The Astronaut Farmer is a charming, inspirational drama that successfully avoids modern cinematic cliches while appealing to the optimistic dreamer in all of us.
Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins
Genre: Dramas
Theatrical Release: Feb 23, 2007 Wide
Box Office: $10,953,736
Synopsis: If twin filmmakers Mark and Michael Polish take cues from David Lynch, then THE ASTRONAUT FARMER is their version of THE STRAIGHT STORY. Though the brothers usually deal in the surreal (NORTHFORK) and the strange (TWIN FALLS, IDAHO), this... [More]
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern
Director: Michael Polish
We should be routing for Farmer and delighted that his dreams are finally becoming a reality, but, instead, the implausibility of the whole thing, the sheer Disneyification of its premise, the Capra-corn nature of its "follow your dreams and never, ever q
It's hard not to like this goofy little film...engaging and uplifting for young and old.
While it is far too long, especially in the home stretch, The Astronaut Farmer is a heartwarming and fun story about the tenacity it takes to see a dream through.
The filmmakers reveal a keen eye for oddities in the American landscape be it a pair of conjoined twins trying to look normal, a huge ark sitting in the middle of a Montana town or a rocket nestled in a barn.
It earns emotion because Farmer's arguments with the F.A.A. and his own wife appeal to basic hopes of liberty - belief that dreaming doesn't have to end with adulthood.
Movies, even if they are ridiculous, are supposed to give us a desire to believe it could happen. This movie never comes close.
As sweet as new-mown hay, "The Astronaut Farmer" is a gentle movie about pursuing dreams regardless of the cost.
a quirky, feel-good flick that espouses the virtues of following your dreams, no matter how improbable.
Fueled by a decidedly American formula of can-do crazy, The Astronaut Farmer feels, for all its libertarianism, a little lost in space.
A wise, weird and wonderful indie film that is chock-full of quirky characters, intriguing situations and sly social satire.
...scientifically implausible, even laughable, but emotionally it's irresistible...
Pretty photography and excellent casting cannot redeem this contrived (for reasons other than the actual idea, which is a good one) story.
If 'feel good' is a film objective worthy of ridicule, then call this reviewer a space cadet.
[The film has] a plodding, pedestrian (at best) script, utterly uninvolving characters and easy potshots at the usual suspects.
Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay the movie is to say that it actively made me want to throw logic right out the window and surrender completely to the fantasy. Which is exactly what I did. This is a little masterpiece.
If somewhat overly familiar and contrived at times this is a likable Capra-esque story.
In terms of message, the film haphazardly succeeds, but the poorly-decided path to get there on Farmer's part won't wash with anyone except the kids who are too young to understand.
The motto of the brothers Polish must be, 'If you plant a cornball drama in Texas, they will come.'
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April 26, 2007:
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March 14, 2007:
Movies, even if they are ridiculous, are supposed to give us a desire to believe it could happen. This movie never comes close.
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