Despite an occasional tendency to ramble on and hold forth, it stands as a worthwhile tale of down-home alternative Americana.
Comment
07/20/07
Rate this Movie 
The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2007)
88
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work
Reviews Counted:40
Fresh:35
Rotten:5
Average Rating:7.4/10
Consensus: Ostensibly a bio about an eccentric farmer, The Real Dirt on Farmer John also doubles as a stirring exploration of man’s common struggle with loss and prejudice.
Runtime: 82 mins
Genre: Musical & Performing Arts
Theatrical Release:Jan 20, 2006 Limited
Synopsis: The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a personal documentary about John Peterson, a farmer, artist, and eccentric/innovative thinker cast in rural Illinois. Filmmaker Taggart Siegel has documented John's... [More]
Director: Taggart Siegel
Get This Movie
Reviews for The Real Dirt on Farmer John
Ultimately, it is hopeful in its depiction of the creativity that helped Peterson -- who also wrote and speaks the film's somewhat flowery narration -- rebound from the farm crisis that had him over a barrel.
01/19/06
Couldn't help loving this film, it gets under your skin like real dirt under your nails after some farm work.
02/16/06
The Real Dirt on Farmer John is the healthiest film on the block.
03/05/06
Don't be surprised if, by the finish, you wind up fantasizing about your own rural homestead.
06/22/07
It’s fascinating that this portrait of the rise, fall and rise of Midwestern organic farmer John Peterson can be read in so many different ways, only some of which appear intentionally in Taggart Siegel’s sympathetic documentary.
07/26/07
Of interest even to those not particularly interested in the subject of farming.
07/25/07
A triumph of baby boomer ideals, that work and art can and ought to coexist.
07/19/07
Yes, John Peterson is a flake, but he's a likable oddball, a rebel you can get behind.
07/27/07
A beguiling combination of agrarian ode and The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, deepened by Peterson's square sincerity as he struggles to find himself in relation to his family's land.
07/06/07
What a blessing this film is, for everyone who's chosen the road less taken, and even perhaps for anyone who's stood in their way.
06/21/07
Top Critic'What do you do when nothing is left?' is the question that drives The Real Dirt on Farmer John.
06/22/07
Top CriticRegardless of what you think the movie is about, it has a fascinating subject: John Peterson, farmer, performance artist, author and, at times, a flamboyant thorn in his neighbors' side.
01/19/06
Even though you fear they will join hands and sing 'Kumbaya,' it is inspiring to see people come together to make sure something good and fundamental doesn’t pass away.
01/24/06
Like its title character, The Real Dirt on Farmer John is a simple, effective movie with a lot on its mind.
07/06/07
a personal journey that also stands as homage to a severely threatened American lifestyle and offers hope
02/20/06
Warmhearted.
06/23/07
If we were better people than we are, we'd all be interested in a documentary about the difficulties of farming life — and the central character wouldn't have to be a cross-dressing, movie-making, play-writing, hippie-loving free spirit.
06/02/05
At times, the film plays like an extended infomercial for John's new company, Angelic Organics, but the agrarian fantasy is so compelling here that the revitalization of the American family farm begins to seem not just possible, but probable.
06/20/07
... outstanding documentary ...
07/26/07
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Best Sci-Fi This Decade 
Techland lists the best Sci-Fi films of this decade.
40 Worst Films of the 2000s
Moviefone takes a look back at the biggest stinkers of the past 10 years.
10 Questions For Zac Efron
The Me and Orson Welles star answers reader questions on TIME.com.
Best Decade Ever!
Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill offers his thoughts on what the best decade for film was.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
In the AV Club's "Scenic Routes," Mike D'Angelo reminisces about the Tim Burton film.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds