The Astronaut Farmer is a heart-warming family film with issues that concern believing in one's self. The film portrays the struggles of a former astronaut-hopeful played by Billy Bob Thorton, and his present dream of building a rocket on his New Mexico ranch, living with his family, a teenage son and two small daughters, supportive wife (played by Virginia Madsen), and father-in-law (played by Bruce Dern). Wonderful real-life characters in the town make this film special in the sense that everyone wants to support someone with a dream who tries to accomplish it.
All of the elements of the forces working against someone trying to buck the system by the media even calling this special family a cult and the government working hard to stop the flight because they don't want to be embarrassed because one man can do what N.A.S.A. spends billions to try to do. This movie will make you laugh, and cry, and have hope that you can do it too—whatever "it" is.
Thanks to writers Michael Polish and Mark Polish and to all who made this film possible. I'd love to act in one of your future films, like this one!
~Van of Urantia*MPAA = Motion Picture Association of America
