Ein NASA-Astronaut, der Jahre zuvor in den Ruhestand gehen musste, um seine Familienfarm zu retten, hat seinen Traum von der Raumfahrt nie aufgegeben und versucht, trotz der Drohungen der Re... Alles lesenEin NASA-Astronaut, der Jahre zuvor in den Ruhestand gehen musste, um seine Familienfarm zu retten, hat seinen Traum von der Raumfahrt nie aufgegeben und versucht, trotz der Drohungen der Regierung ihn zu stoppen, eine Rakete zu bauen.Ein NASA-Astronaut, der Jahre zuvor in den Ruhestand gehen musste, um seine Familienfarm zu retten, hat seinen Traum von der Raumfahrt nie aufgegeben und versucht, trotz der Drohungen der Regierung ihn zu stoppen, eine Rakete zu bauen.
Handlung
WUSSTEST DU SCHON:
- WissenswertesWhen Farmer is about to launch, Shepard says: "Cleared for launch at zero hour nine a.m.," an homage to the Elton John song "Rocket Man."
- PatzerFarmer is able to communicate with his ground controller, Sheppard, throughout the flight, except when his radio system is not operational due to a malfunction. In fact, radio transmissions are only possible if the antenna of the transmitter has a "line of sight" to the receiver. Farmer could not speak with his ground controller when he was on the other side of the Earth. NASA uses a series of antennas located around the world to receive and relay radio signals to Houston, the home of NASA Mission Comtrol at the Johnson Space Center.
- Zitate
Charles Farmer: You see, when I was a kid, they used to tell me that I could be anything I wanted to be. No matter what. And maybe I am insane, I don't know, but I still believe that.
- Crazy CreditsDuring the credits, an interview on The Tonight Show is shown between Farmer and Jay Leno. Pictures play during the credits as well.
- SoundtracksLuckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)
Written by Bobby Emmons and Chips Moman
Performed by Waylon Jennings
Courtesy of The RCA Label Group RLG/Nashville
By arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment
The Polish brothers and the Warner Brothers, taking a cue from Walden Media, have hit the family movie sweet spot with this fun, engaging film. I'm giving it an 8 on the basis of pure solid family entertainment value.
(If this movie were a car it would probably be a Toyota Camry)
At the start of the screening, Billy Bob Thorton proudly (and accurately, IMHO) characterized this film as a feel-good Frank Capraesque popcorn flick - the sort of film that would have been on the "A" side of a double bill back in the days of his youth.
Billy Bob and Virginia Madsen do terrific jobs with their characters. I think the timelessly beautiful Ms. Madsen is particularly effective as Farmer's patient, loving, and somewhat exasperated wife.
(and if I were Stephen Colbert interviewing Billy Bob Thorton, I would probably ask this question - "Virginia Madsen: hot co-star, or *the hottest* co-star?").
The story and the arc of the film bring strong elements of "Field of Dreams" and "October Sky" to mind; but absent the mysticism of the former and the somewhat dysfunctional family dynamics of the latter. As a large, tasty helping of pure western Americana I don't doubt for a minute that this film will be a huge hit in Japan.
This movie pays light homage to films like "The Right Stuff" and "Apollo 13." Space fanatics, rocket scientists, and other members of the pocket-protector crowd might experience a few "oh please, you've got to be kidding" moments, but because of its charm, likable characters, and strong acting, this movie requires a lot less disbelief suspension than a film like, oh I don't know, let's say "Armageddon," for example.
Speaking of baby-boomer asteroid wranglers, I was also pleasantly surprised to see Bruce Willis in a small, but key supporting role. I think it's really great when skilled, immensely watchable actors lend their talents to bright young film makers. At the Q&A after the film it was revealed that Bruce took the role as a favor to the Polish brothers and that he essentially worked for free. It was nice of him to do that.
All of the other members of the well-casted supporting ensemble (including some young members of the Polish tribe) delivered solid performances as well.
I won't give you a synopsis of the film here (others are better than me at that sort of thing); but I will tell you that I plan to take my wife and 4, 7, and 12 year old kids to see this film for the pure joy of watching a fun, happy, and slightly quirky movie together as a family.
- SnakePlizzken
- 1. Feb. 2007
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Details
- Erscheinungsdatum
- Herkunftsland
- Offizieller Standort
- Sprachen
- Auch bekannt als
- The Astronaut Farmer
- Drehorte
- White Sands, New Mexico, USA(opening credits)
- Produktionsfirmen
- Weitere beteiligte Unternehmen bei IMDbPro anzeigen
Box Office
- Budget
- 13.000.000 $ (geschätzt)
- Bruttoertrag in den USA und Kanada
- 11.003.643 $
- Eröffnungswochenende in den USA und in Kanada
- 4.454.319 $
- 25. Feb. 2007
- Weltweiter Bruttoertrag
- 11.130.889 $
- Laufzeit1 Stunde 44 Minuten
- Farbe
- Sound-Mix
- Seitenverhältnis
- 2.39 : 1