The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

A NASA astronaut (Thornton), 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:

Official site [Japan] 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

The song playing in the background at the county fair is sung by Dwight Yoakam. Billy Bob Thornton starred with, and directed, Dwight Yoakam in Sling Blade (1996.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Charles Farmer: So, what do you wanna be when you get out of here?
Child #2: I don't know.
Charles Farmer: What do you mean, you don't know?
Child #2: I don't know.
Charles Farmer: Well, let me tell you something, you better know what you wanna do before somebody knows it for you. Trust me.

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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 Siskel & Ebert: Norbit/Factory Girl/The Astronaut Farmer/Because I Said So/The Situation (2007)

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Soundtracks

(Hey Baby) Que Paso
Written by Augie Meyers and Bill Sheffield
Performed by Texas Tornados
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

The Astronaut Farmer is an excellent 'Follow-your-dreams' movie

Billy Bob Thornton stars as the title character, a farmer who wants to go to space but faces resistance wherever he goes except for his family and even they sometimes have doubts. Virginia Madsen plays his mostly supportive wife. Tim Blake Nelson plays his lawyer. Bruce Dern plays the grandpa. J. K. Simmons plays the FAA head who tries to stop Thornton. Kiersten Warren (who you may have recognized as Nora on "Desperate Housewives") is Madsen's fellow waitress. And a Big Movie Star appears as a former astronaut who tries to talk Thornton out of his dreams (sorry, you have to watch the movie to see who it is). There's lots of Capra-corn inspiration and drama that should make believers out of anyone who still have dreams he or she would love to come true. On that note, I highly recommend this movie, The Astronaut Farmer, to every family member out there!