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"Farmer" reaps a whole lot of corn |
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Written by MICHAEL JAMES ALLEN
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Tuesday, 27 February 2007 |
I remember watching Conan O’Brien a few years ago and
seeing an interview with a man who was building his
own rocket. The man seemed competent, if a little
kooky, and he calmly explained that he had all the
knowledge and materials needed for a successful space
launch. Afterwards, I never heard anything else on the
subject, and I’ve always wondered if he succeeded or
if, more likely, he blew himself to kingdom come.
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"The Astronaut Farmer"
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 Entertainment
 Art
Directed by Michael Polish
Written by Mark Polish and Michael Polish
Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Masden, and
Bruce Dern
Rated PG for thematic material, peril, and language
Released February 23, 2007
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Well, here comes “The Astronaut Farmer” to answer all
my queries. While not strictly based on that man, the
film tells the eerily similar story of a humble farmer
(Billy Bob Thornton, in a tailor-made role) building a
rocket in his barn and preparing for a launch of his
own. Of course, because this is a movie and every
movie must have a hokey conflict, the evidently evil
FAA steps in and tried to prevent the launch. The
farmer, named Farmer in a brilliant display of
subtlety, is a former NASA candidate who never quite
made it into space. He keeps a hold of the desire,
however, and spends the rest of the film fighting to
make that dream come true.
Does he make it into space? If you honestly can’t
guess the answer then stop reading right now and go
watch “The Right Stuff” or something. There is never a
doubt in your mind that Farmer will launch his rocket,
and that is one of the film’s biggest problems. The
premise, while interesting, is told in a trite, corny
way, and it all plays out like an after-school special
on following your dreams. The film takes great pains
to get us to empathize with the noble Farmer but let’s
face it: Dream or not, it’s dumb to launch a homemade
rocket. I’d love to root for the Farmer, but common
sense tells me to simply pity him instead. And, while
I have no problem with the theme of never giving up,
“The Astronaut Farmer” beats you over the head with
it, going so far as to even name the rocket “The
Dreamer.” The film is also anti-climactic. With all
the build-up, you would think Farmer’s inevitable trip
to space would be inspiring, and yet this cathartic
moment falls flat. An opportunity for silent wonder is
squandered, making the whole sequence feel like a
routine. It almost seems as though the characters are
as certain of the outcome as the audience.
I don’t mean to sound as though I’m bashing “The
Astronaut Farmer.” It’s a cheerful bit of fluff, with
a family-friendly mindset and a couple of absurdly
funny jokes peppered throughout. It is, however, a
surprising turn from the Polish Brothers, known before
this for great independent films like “Twin Falls
Idaho” and “Northfork.” This is their first studio
film and you can tell: It takes their raw sensibility
and waters it down with schmaltz and unearned
sentimentality in an effort to be more mainstream.
That explains the film but doesn’t excuse it. I
applaud the Polish Brothers for trying to branch out,
but I’m afraid their first big effort just can’t get
off the ground. |
Written by Guest on 2007-08-02 18:39:26
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