By Kevin Koeninger
Ever since he could remember, Charles Farmer wanted to travel to outer space.
After becoming a pilot and placing himself on the fast track to literal stardom with NASA’s space program, it seemed as though he would get his wish.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck and Farmer was forced to return home and tend to his family. His dream, however, doesn’t end there.
If “The Astronaut Farmer” is about one thing, it is about the pursuit of dreams. Academy Award winner Billy Bob Thornton stars in the Polish Brothers production about a man who refuses to sacrifice his dream, no matter what.
Shortly after returning home, Farmer (Thornton) decides that if NASA can’t take him to outer space, he’ll just have to do it himself. Surrounded by his supporting but sometimes skeptical wife (played by Virginia Madsen) and three loving children, Farmer dedicates over 10 years of his life to constructing a homemade rocket.
Sound a bit over the top? Well, in many regards, it is; but there’s also a deeper meaning at the heart of this fantastic voyage.
“Charles Farmer is a bit eccentric, but that’s because he’s doing what he wants to do … [e]everybody’s allowed to dream,” said Director Michael Polish.
As he struggles onward to build successfully and launch his rocket, Farmer comes face to face with several daunting problems.
These problems place a great deal of stress upon the entire Farmer family, and at times, it appears as though the rocket will be the ultimate undoing of their close-knit relationship.
As producer Paula Weinstein said, “Farmer is absolutely determined to give his children the guidance he didn’t have … [b]y pursuing his dream to go into space, Farmer is hoping to show his children that you must dare to risk, dare to succeed.”
Other stars of the film include Bruce Dern in the role of Farmer’s father-in-law and Max Thieriot, who plays the 15-year-old whiz kid Shepard Farmer, Charles’s son and flight crew manager.
A film rife with top-notch stars in both leading and supporting roles and a tender, heartwarming story line, “The Astronaut Farmer” is sure to be appreciated by families across the country, or solar system for that matter.
-Kevin Koeninger
