The Astronaut Farmer (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:132
Fresh:76
Rotten:56
Average Rating:6/10
Consensus: The Astronaut Farmer is a charming, inspirational drama that successfully avoids modern cinematic cliches while appealing to the optimistic dreamer in all of us.
Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: If twin filmmakers Mark and Michael Polish take cues from David Lynch, then THE ASTRONAUT FARMER is their version of THE STRAIGHT STORY. Though the brothers usually deal in the surreal (NORTHFORK)... [More]
Starring: Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, Bruce Dern
Director: Michael Polish
Reviews for The Astronaut Farmer
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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Self-fondling Americana Full Review |
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2.0/5 |
The Astronaut Farmer is one of those movies that you don't believe for a moment while you're watching it, but you leave with a warm glow. But by the time you've driven home, you realize you've been conned. Full Review |
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 B- |
Click to read the article Full Review |
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5/10 |
We should be routing for Farmer and delighted that his dreams are finally becoming a reality, but, instead, the implausibility of the whole thing, the sheer Disneyification of its premise, the Capra-corn nature of its "follow your dreams and never, ever q Full Review |
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7/10 |
It's hard not to like this goofy little film...engaging and uplifting for young and old. Full Review |
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4/5 |
While it is far too long, especially in the home stretch, The Astronaut Farmer is a heartwarming and fun story about the tenacity it takes to see a dream through. Full Review |
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The filmmakers reveal a keen eye for oddities in the American landscape be it a pair of conjoined twins trying to look normal, a huge ark sitting in the middle of a Montana town or a rocket nestled in a barn. Full Review |
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It earns emotion because Farmer's arguments with the F.A.A. and his own wife appeal to basic hopes of liberty - belief that dreaming doesn't have to end with adulthood. Full Review |
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2/4 |
Movies, even if they are ridiculous, are supposed to give us a desire to believe it could happen. This movie never comes close. Full Review |
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3/4 |
As sweet as new-mown hay, "The Astronaut Farmer" is a gentle movie about pursuing dreams regardless of the cost. Full Review |
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3/4 |
a quirky, feel-good flick that espouses the virtues of following your dreams, no matter how improbable. Full Review |
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3/6 |
Fueled by a decidedly American formula of can-do crazy, The Astronaut Farmer feels, for all its libertarianism, a little lost in space. Full Review |
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5/5 |
A wise, weird and wonderful indie film that is chock-full of quirky characters, intriguing situations and sly social satire. Full Review |
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3/5 |
...scientifically implausible, even laughable, but emotionally it's irresistible... Full Review |
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1.5/5 |
Pretty photography and excellent casting cannot redeem this contrived (for reasons other than the actual idea, which is a good one) story. Full Review |
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B+ |
If 'feel good' is a film objective worthy of ridicule, then call this reviewer a space cadet. Full Review |
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Has a scrappy charm that's hard to completely resist. Full Review |
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[The film has] a plodding, pedestrian (at best) script, utterly uninvolving characters and easy potshots at the usual suspects. Full Review |
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4/4 |
Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay the movie is to say that it actively made me want to throw logic right out the window and surrender completely to the fantasy. Which is exactly what I did. This is a little masterpiece. Full Review |
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B |
If you like Frank Capra-like movies, then this is for you. Full Review |
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March 14, 2007:
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