Rent The Astronaut Farmer (2006)

3.3 of 5 from 63 ratings
1h 40min
Rent The Astronaut Farmer Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
All systems are "Go" for Charles Farmer. He's faced bank foreclosure, neighborhood naysayers and a government alarmed by his huge purchase of high-grade fuel, but now he's ready to blast into space inside the homemade rocket he built in his barn. Just be home in time for dinner, Charlie. Billy Bob Thornton portrays Charlie in this charmer about chasing dreams...and about what it means to be a family. 10,000 pounds of rocket fuel alone can't lift Charlie into the heavens. He needs a launch/recovery crew, and he has one of the best: his wife (Virginia Madsen) and children, dreamers all. They have liftoff. Our spirits have uplift. Gravity cannot hold down our dreams. 'The Astronaut Farmer' is that kind of movie.
Actors:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Directors:
Producers:
Len Amato, Mark Polish, Michael Polish, Paula Weinstein
Writers:
Mark Polish, Michael Polish
Studio:
Warner
Genres:
Action & Adventure, Children & Family, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Collections:
Giant Leap for Mankind: A History of Astronaut Films
BBFC:
Release Date:
31/03/2008
Run Time:
100 minutes
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:
Arabic, English, English Hard of Hearing
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 2.40:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • How to Build a Rocket: The Making of 'The Astronaut Farmer'
  • A Conversation with NASA Astronaut David Scott
  • Bloopers and Outtakes

More like The Astronaut Farmer

Reviews (2) of The Astronaut Farmer

Enjoyable family film. - The Astronaut Farmer review by JG

Spoiler Alert
23/11/2017

This film is not a slapstick comedy, but is a serious fantasy. It does have some humour, and it has a barely plausible plot center piece; a man builds his own rocket, not just to launch like most do, but to take himself into orbit. On the surface it portrays American life, accurately as far as I can tell from UK. The opening seems to set us up for a comedy with the farmer wearing a space suit seemingly all the time and everyone calling him The Astronaut. As the film goes on, we realise he doesn't wear his space suit normally and he is serious about his rocket.

Wisely the film doesn't go into great detail on how he did the engineering other than collecting discarded items from scrapyards and resuscitating them, but we see impressive convincing glimpses of the rocket which conveys to us that he does know what he is doing. In the extras a NASA astronaut says it is more complicated than shown. but the film comes close.

Billy Bob Thornton, one of our favourite actors, is always good at unusual characters with different ideas to most on what is important in life. Virginia Madsen, another favourite, is excellent as the sympathetic and understanding wife. Bruce Dern, another favourite, plays the grandfather. Bruce Willis has a supporting role and gives the film his generous support. The administration is portrayed unsympathetically, but not too different to what might be expected.

The story should not be taken too seriously, it is really a metaphor saying, aspiring to your dreams is a good thing. It is a good family film, hopefully we will see more from the Polish brothers.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

Don’t waist your time with this film - The Astronaut Farmer review by AO

Spoiler Alert
30/05/2018

The film was predictable and boring with real excitement to it what so ever. The only good thing about it was the special effects apart from that I wouldn’t recommend anyone waist there time with this film.

0 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

Unlimited films sent to your door, starting at £15.99 a month.