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Uncapie Says THE ASTRONAUT FARMER Has the "Right Stuff"!!
Merrick here...
Here's Uncapie with a look at THE ASTRONAUT FARMER, which should launch early 2007. It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, and Bruce Willis.
An astronaut farmer...
Hmmmmmm...
Anyone out there remember SALVAGE 1?
"Once upon a time, there was a junkman who had a dream..." Loved that show...schemed for years about how to build a spaceship in my own backyard. My parents got tired of the mess. Probably for the best; no ship I built could ever be as utterly cool as Andy Griffith's "Vulture".
Here’s Uncapie…
This is the best movie I've seen all year!
Written Michael Polish and directed by his twin brother Mark, the story revolves around "Farmer"(Brilliantly played by Billy Bob Thornton.) an everyman with dreams of launching his own home-made rocket built from obsolete spacecraft. A former pilot who was chosen for the astronaut program until fate intervened with the death of his father and he had to abandon his plans, but never his dreams.
His friends laugh and ridicule him. He faces foreclosure on his land and cattle. He's under a psych evaluation by his former high school prom date that thinks he's nuts. The F.B.I. believe he's building a WMD in his backyard. The F.A.A. drown him in red tape after he's filed his flight plan just to make sure he doesn't get off the ground. But, its his loving wife and family that stand by his side and believe he can do it.
Cast is first rate with Virginia Madsen playing Farmer's wife, "Audie." Bruce Dern as Farmer's father-in-law who gives sage advice, even by accident that sparks Farmer's imagination. The young actors portraying Farmer's kids are believable and adorable as they support their dad's wild dream. His 15 year old son, "Shepherd"(Named after Alan Shepherd, the first American into space.) runs his mission control and his daughters help him train on a carnival rocket ride he's rented while giving him healthy space food consisting of Lucky Charms with its colorful stars, moons and clovers; without the cereal. Even Mark Polish has a small part as a none-too-happy F.B.I. agent that stands out.
Bruce Willis portrays a buddy of Farmer's that made it as an astronaut in an effective, low-key part. Doubting that Farmer will live through lift off he offers him a seat on the next space shuttle. Farmer has to follow through with his dream and declines.
Tim Blake Nelson with character actors, Sal Lopez and Richard Edson portray Farmer's attorney, Pepe; Farmer's ranch hand and the local sheriff in solid, well-written roles.
Director Michael Polish absorbs the viewer into Farmer's world seamlessly with the efforts of gifted cinematographer M. David Mullen's breathtaking wide open vistas and comfortable feeling of being there with the dreamer in his adventure. They compliment each other tremendously.
The underlying theme of this movie isn't about space travel or having the "Right Stuff" but, its having faith in what you believe in when no one else believes in you.
Uncapie
This is the best movie I've seen all year!
Written Michael Polish and directed by his twin brother Mark, the story revolves around "Farmer"(Brilliantly played by Billy Bob Thornton.) an everyman with dreams of launching his own home-made rocket built from obsolete spacecraft. A former pilot who was chosen for the astronaut program until fate intervened with the death of his father and he had to abandon his plans, but never his dreams.
His friends laugh and ridicule him. He faces foreclosure on his land and cattle. He's under a psych evaluation by his former high school prom date that thinks he's nuts. The F.B.I. believe he's building a WMD in his backyard. The F.A.A. drown him in red tape after he's filed his flight plan just to make sure he doesn't get off the ground. But, its his loving wife and family that stand by his side and believe he can do it.
Cast is first rate with Virginia Madsen playing Farmer's wife, "Audie." Bruce Dern as Farmer's father-in-law who gives sage advice, even by accident that sparks Farmer's imagination. The young actors portraying Farmer's kids are believable and adorable as they support their dad's wild dream. His 15 year old son, "Shepherd"(Named after Alan Shepherd, the first American into space.) runs his mission control and his daughters help him train on a carnival rocket ride he's rented while giving him healthy space food consisting of Lucky Charms with its colorful stars, moons and clovers; without the cereal. Even Mark Polish has a small part as a none-too-happy F.B.I. agent that stands out.
Bruce Willis portrays a buddy of Farmer's that made it as an astronaut in an effective, low-key part. Doubting that Farmer will live through lift off he offers him a seat on the next space shuttle. Farmer has to follow through with his dream and declines.
Tim Blake Nelson with character actors, Sal Lopez and Richard Edson portray Farmer's attorney, Pepe; Farmer's ranch hand and the local sheriff in solid, well-written roles.
Director Michael Polish absorbs the viewer into Farmer's world seamlessly with the efforts of gifted cinematographer M. David Mullen's breathtaking wide open vistas and comfortable feeling of being there with the dreamer in his adventure. They compliment each other tremendously.
The underlying theme of this movie isn't about space travel or having the "Right Stuff" but, its having faith in what you believe in when no one else believes in you.
Uncapie
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One of the worst reviews I've ever read on this or any other sight.
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turn it up, let it knock, let it bang on the block til the neighbors call the cops. the cops gon come, but they ain't gonna do shit, they don't want no problems, what are ya'll stupid?
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Not a bad book, similar topic, cooler destination (Mars).
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... I think someone at AICN just cut and pasted the press release for this movie and called it a 'review'. Slow news day?
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But I'm not really a fan of Polish. Northfork, and Twin Falls were pretty slow, uninteresting (if odd) movies.. . but... I don't know. He's like half a Coen brother. His movies are too sleepy while not being dreamy enough. God, I just don't know how better to put it.
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...of the British series Rocket Man that had Robson Green in it from last year, only he was a proper everyman who only dreamed of being an actual astronaut, he was never actually in the running to go "way up there" before fate got in the way, like Thornton. Apart from that though sounds very damn similar indeed.
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I do remember it. A long time ago. God, I'm getting old...
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Vedgetable.
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this time I have to agree. That wasn't a review, it sounded more like a (space) mission statement. Come AICN, you can do better than this...
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All this plant bollocks is hilarious. Uncapie's been a contributor for longer than I can remember. It might just be a good fucking movie...
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it reeks of plants in here.
if you're gonna write a plant review, put more effort into making it sound like a jaded teenager, like the rest of the readers. you know, say something in the film sucks shit, and maybe mention the lead actresses' tits for real plausibility. -
It would be nice to get a review with real sentences in it, not just sentence fragements! At least Bruce and Billy Bob made this, and not Bandits II!
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I still have the poster-book based on the show.
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We need some Heinlein on screen. And done right for once.
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I really love their new album. That song, and "Long Time" especially.
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when I tried to contemplate this sappy pap (thanks Barry J) "The underlying theme of this movie isn't about space travel or having the "Right Stuff" but, its having faith in what you believe in when no one else believes in you."
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! My poppie and mamma beat my privates when I was a youngling' and now I have to try to find faith in what I believe when NO ONE believes in me!!!!!!" Oh Gawd, where's Oprah!?!?!?!
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He's been posting here longer than some of you were little scales on your daddy's underwear. Good show, Uncapie. And a shout out to reni.... see you at BNAT!
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Field of Dreams of an October Sky...
I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo there...
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I have no trouble believing that this will be great. The Polish brothers are phenomenal. I love that 'Twin Fall Idaho' and 'Northfork' are starting get proper respect from the indie outlets- these are the sorts of movies that make people go "Whoa, how did I miss when that came out?".
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Yeah, you're not a plant....*cough*
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Hopefully Billy Bob doesn't run into annoying aliens that watch too much TV. This sounds like a cool one.
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I loved Jackpot, and thought Northfork was the best movie of '03. These guy have yet to let me down.
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I dig them. I'm glad they're still doing their own thing.
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I know, I know, I am fucking myself. Thank god for small favours, your arsehole was getting a bit worn. You really should think about getting that extra stitch put in the next time you go in for a 'refit.'
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re: "Rudy Builds A Rocket". I once saw a movie like that...well - almost like that...It was called "Rudy's Rocket Goes Off in his Face..." It was something of a heartwarmer...
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But it ain't a fuckin' review either. This actor plays this, this person does this, this is the plot and the themes. This is a script treatment. Lame! Also sounds like "If you loved Phenomenon you'll love The Astronaut Farmer!" Anyways...
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...I'll eat my hat. Nothing could be that boring ever again. I watched that movie going, "FOR CHRISSAKES, SOMETHING HAPPEN! SOMEONE DO A THING!" Terrible.
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I sorta liked NORTHFORK, but I can see how some might find it boring. However, you are incorrect that anything else could be that boring. Last night I watched Catherine Breillat's "A Real Young Girl," and about midway through I started hoping someone would break into my apartment and shoot me in the face.
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you got the title right but John Varley wrote "Red Thunder" ? not Vinge
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