The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

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

Director:

Michael Polish

Writers:

Mark Polish, Michael Polish

Stars:

Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, Bruce Dern

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Texan Charles Farmer left the Air Force as a young man to save the family ranch when his dad died. Like most American ranchers, he owes his bank. Unlike most, he's an astrophysicist with a rocket in his barn - one he's built and wants to take into space. It's his dream. The FBI puts him under surveillance when he tries to buy rocket fuel; the FAA stalls him when he files a flight plan - it's post-9/11, after all. His wife is angry when she finds out their bank is initiating foreclosure. Charlie fears failure and decides, precipitously, to launch. Are twenty-first century American dreams just a sign of insanity? Are those who believe in dreamers only fools?

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Plot Keywords:

rocket | bank | fbi | space travel | fuel | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material, peril and language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

23 February 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Astronaut Farmer

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,454,319, 25 February 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$10,996,440, 22 April 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Spring Creek Pictures, Polish Brothers Construction

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Billy Bob Thornton and Bruce Willis also shared screen time in Armageddon (1998), where the same topics of space, astronauts and rocket spaceships are highly concentrated on.

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Goofs

During the flight, Farmer's capsule comes very close to what apparently is a communications satellite. Typically communications satellites are in geosynchronous orbit 22,236 miles above the surface of the earth. Since Farmer's orbit was planned for 100 statute miles perigee (and presumably an apogee around 175 statute miles, typical for Project Mercury), there is no way he would ever come within sight of a communications satellite.

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Quotes

Judge Miller: [grabs a paddle] Assume the position.
Will Beacon: You're not really gonna whack me with that thing, are you?

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Crazy Credits

During the credits, an interview on The Tonight Show is shown between Farmer and Jay Leno. Pictures play during the credits as well.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Norbit/Factory Girl/The Astronaut Farmer/Because I Said So/The Situation (2007)

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Soundtracks

The Imperial March
Written and Performed by John Williams (as John T. Williams)
Courtesy of Lucasfilm Ltd.

User Reviews

Just ludicrous

Suspend your disbelief indeed, but come on. If a movie is to take place in the real world, with real people, there has to be SOME semblance of plausibility in the action portrayed.

No, a man cannot build and launch an Atlas rocket by himself in his barn and orbit the earth in it. I get the idea that there were science advisers once employed by this production, but they were shown the door when they said "ummm...."

Nice little movie, nice people, but beyond ridiculous in its science, which ruins it. Head-smack city. Kinda like "Armageddon" which also starred Billy Bob and Bruce.