Astronaut Farmer: Surprisingly Good
Let's get one thing straight: this movie was not made for me. As a 23-year-old recent college grad with a taste for indie films and epics, I don't exactly fit the target demographic for The Astronaut Farmer, which opens today. It's cheesy, it's formulaic, it's predictable and it's totally not believable.
But you know what? I really liked it.
This is one of the rare family movies that has some depth and heart, as opposed to a lot of the shallow stuff we call "family entertainment."
The story is simple enough. Charles Farmer, a former military pilot on his way to becoming an astronaut, gets sidetracked from his dream when his father dies and he has to take care of the family farm. But Farmer won't give up on his dream and spends all his resources constructing a homemade rocket, which he is determined to launch, in spite of mounting debts, government interference and a world of naysayers.
Astronaut Farmer works because of the characters and the acting. Billy Bob Thornton is a hit-or-miss actor, but he definitely hits the mark here, playing Charles Farmer with that calm, simple country feel that he can bring out (very reminiscent of Coach Gaines in Friday Night Lights). Perfectly complementing him is Virginia Madsen, who steals the movie as Farmer's wife, Audie. The conflict within her between supporting her husband's dream and being financially responsible is fantastic, and the interaction between her and Thornton makes them feel like a real couple.
The supporting cast of family members, bumbling government agents and quirky small town residents works well and provides most of the comedy. There's even a nice cameo from Bruce Willis.
While the message of believing in yourself and your dreams no matter what is a good one, it gets hit on so much that it almost becomes tiresome. The real heart comes in the interactions of the family. It's refreshing to see a man who loves spending time with his kids in a movie. Farmer's not the perfect dad (his stewardship is highly questionable), but he shines like a beacon compared to most other father figures in movies today.
If you're looking for a movie to see with the family, you can't go wrong with Astronaut Farmer. It's not the greatest feat of cinema, but it's pretty clean (there a few innuendos and some cursing), it has a good message and it just makes you leave the theater with a smile on your face.
But you know what? I really liked it.
This is one of the rare family movies that has some depth and heart, as opposed to a lot of the shallow stuff we call "family entertainment."
The story is simple enough. Charles Farmer, a former military pilot on his way to becoming an astronaut, gets sidetracked from his dream when his father dies and he has to take care of the family farm. But Farmer won't give up on his dream and spends all his resources constructing a homemade rocket, which he is determined to launch, in spite of mounting debts, government interference and a world of naysayers.
Astronaut Farmer works because of the characters and the acting. Billy Bob Thornton is a hit-or-miss actor, but he definitely hits the mark here, playing Charles Farmer with that calm, simple country feel that he can bring out (very reminiscent of Coach Gaines in Friday Night Lights). Perfectly complementing him is Virginia Madsen, who steals the movie as Farmer's wife, Audie. The conflict within her between supporting her husband's dream and being financially responsible is fantastic, and the interaction between her and Thornton makes them feel like a real couple.
The supporting cast of family members, bumbling government agents and quirky small town residents works well and provides most of the comedy. There's even a nice cameo from Bruce Willis.
While the message of believing in yourself and your dreams no matter what is a good one, it gets hit on so much that it almost becomes tiresome. The real heart comes in the interactions of the family. It's refreshing to see a man who loves spending time with his kids in a movie. Farmer's not the perfect dad (his stewardship is highly questionable), but he shines like a beacon compared to most other father figures in movies today.
If you're looking for a movie to see with the family, you can't go wrong with Astronaut Farmer. It's not the greatest feat of cinema, but it's pretty clean (there a few innuendos and some cursing), it has a good message and it just makes you leave the theater with a smile on your face.
posted by Chris at 10:09 AM
1 Comments:
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