Texan Charles Farmer left the Air Force as a young man to save the family ranch when his dad died. Like most American ranchers, he owes his bank. Unlike most, he's an astrophysicist with a rocket in his barn - one he's built and wants to take into space. It's his dream. The FBI puts him under surveillance when he tries to buy rocket fuel; the FAA stalls him when he files a flight plan - it's post-9/11, after all. His wife is angry when she finds out their bank is initiating foreclosure. Charlie fears failure and decides, precipitously, to launch. Are twenty-first century American dreams just a sign of insanity? Are those who believe in dreamers only fools?
Ever seen tractors and hay bales on the red carpet? In the midst of a dramatic chemical fire (that we have no footage of), Eric met up with Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen, along with the producer/writer/director team of the Polish brothers at the Kansas City premiere of their new film The Astronaut Farmer.
