The Astronaut Farmer (2007)

How sad is this?

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Texan farmer Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) is obsessed with his rocket dreams. He risks everything including his farm. The bank is at the door step, and now the government is there too as he tries to buy rocket fuel.Mark and Michael Polish twins have created some nice Americana cheese. It has the little guy hero and he's confronted by overwhelming opposition. He and his wife Audrey (Virginia Madsen) lead a nuclear Rockwellian family. The most interesting thing is how much she supports him. When she finds out the bank trouble, it provided the most drama in the whole movie.The biggest problem is the lack of suspense or any surprises. The characters are all cookie cutter creations. They even got Bruce Willis offering Farmer a ride on the shuttle. Armageddon anyone? The story unfolds with barely a twist in sight.

Michael Polish's "The Astronaut Farmer" works well for most of its running time. A fantastical David vs Goliath tale, the film watches as actor Billy Bob Thornton plays a Texas rancher who constructs a rocket in his barn and, against all odds, launches himself into outer space.The film's final act is ruined by several ridiculous sequences and some poor CGI, but also this: the film's first 3 acts work well because we're unsure whether Thornton's character is deeply deluded. We also suspect that his family members have become an almost cult-like group, who blindly worship, obey and follow their little patriarch. These interesting avenues, however, are ultimately left unexplored."The Astronaut Farmer" is criticised for being "totally damn unbelievable", but the film knows this. Structured as a children's tale, the film's a piece of myth-making about boyhood dreams propelling grown men. Thornton counters the film's whimsy with some good, dead-pan humour.7/10 – See "The Right Stuff" and "The White Diamond". Worth one viewing.

The movie has something captivating from the first moment. You see a man, who believes in his dream and never doubts, that it will come true. Unless some failure along the line, of course. The teacher called him "inspiring". He is inspiring and also the movie is, too. You soon get caught by the atmosphere and start to share his hopes and dreams. That's what makes a good movie.The only bad thing I can say about the story is that it would probably never actually be so easy in real live. The government and the NASA would have found thousands of sure ways to prevent someone from endangering their interests. Therefore, the plot is not always believable. But it doesn't need to.

But I loved every minute of it.This isn't the first 'rocket in the backyard story' but it is perhaps the best of them. BBT has a gentle approach to his characterisation, and you warm to him and his family.There's plenty of ups and downs in this tale to keep you intrigued to the end, particularly when you think he's muffed the whole thing.Good all round support and a fine cameo by Bruce Willis, puts this in the top drawer. Suspend your belief, toss away your cynicism, and just enjoy this for what it is. Don't miss the credits at the end though, they add something to the whole mix.