Billy Bob Thornton said he made "The Astronaut Farmer," opening Friday, because it reminded him of the feel-good movies he liked to watch growing up. In "Astronaut Farmer," director Michael Polish and screenwriter Mark Polish have created a film in the vein of Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." It's the kind of movie that makes one believe in the unbelievable.
Thornton plays a farmer (coincidentally named Charles Farmer) who had always dreamed of rocketing off into space. He tried to do it the official way, but NASA dismissed him before he had the chance. Farmer started a family but never quite settled down. He built his own space shuttle in his barn and the only thing keeping him on the ground is FBI red tape.
The story is an escape from reality, and literal-minded viewers will be sure to point out the plot holes. But this isn't a movie about the technical logistics of building and launching a spaceship without support from NASA - it's a film about following a dream to the end. And it's great fun, too.
There's a real Texas feel to the movie and Farmer's home is rich with small town characters and local customs. Everyone knows everyone. Farmer's psychiatrist, for example, is also the school nurse and his date from the high school prom.
Excellent acting, helped by superb writing, prevents "Astronaut Farmer" from blowing up. Thornton's love for the premise shows, and the "Slingblade" star gives a heartfelt performance that's much more likable than recent comedies like "School for Scoundrels" and "Bad Santa." Virginia Madsen shows great emotional range as Farmer's wife, convincing in her portrayal of a woman who believes in her husband but feels the stress and burden that comes with his dream.
The supporting players are excellent as well. J.K. Simmons ("Spider-Man") puts in another fine performance as a complete asshole, while Tim Blake Nelson ("Syriana") shines as Farmer's tough-but-warm lawyer.
It's not just character actors filling the smaller parts, though. Bruce Willis appears as a famous astronaut, and though viewers will be sure to exclaim, "That's the guy who saved Earth from Armageddon!" upon his first appearance, the casting seems fitting for the role. Other notable appearances include screenwriter Mark Polish as an FBI agent and the Polish brothers' daughters as the Farmer kids.
A movie like "Astronaut Farmer" lends itself well to predictable plot devices but the Polish brothers manage to keep viewers on their toes until the end. The film expertly mixes comedy with tragedy, afraid neither to make a "Simpsons"-esque joke during a serious FBI hearing nor to launch Thornton and Madsen into an intense, plate-throwing fight in the middle of a PG-rated film.
One also expects a lot of special effects, but the focus in "Astronaut Farmer" is much more on character development. There are explosions and a scene in space, but the cool effects are by no means the film's centerpiece.
In this icy winter, "The Astronaut Farmer" may be just the escape from planet Earth moviegoers need.
