By the time the end credits come along, you're about ready to pat your new friend on the back, careful to avoid ruffling that feathered boa.
Comment
05/18/06
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
A genuine, no-frills, working person's story of giving as much to the world as you reap from it.
05/04/06
He has the rough hands of a hard-working farmer but the soul of a reflective poet, and he brings both to bear in telling his story.
04/21/06
By the end, "The Real Dirt on Farmer John" has been an epic journey of one man who has already been faced with enough hardships that it looks like he has nothing to worry about for the rest of his life.
03/06/06
The Real Dirt on Farmer John is the healthiest film on the block.
03/05/06
a personal journey that also stands as homage to a severely threatened American lifestyle and offers hope
02/20/06
Couldn't help loving this film, it gets under your skin like real dirt under your nails after some farm work.
02/16/06
Even at 82 minutes, the film kind of stagnates and repeats itself.
02/16/06
Top CriticTo find something that can make you love America in the way that was so common for so many a generation ago can seem like a miracle.
02/03/06
It plays like a film version of a long feature article that you begin reading in The New Yorker because it sounds so fascinating, only to abandon it halfway through when you realize that it doesn’t really have that much to say after all.
01/28/06
The Real Dirt on Farmer John examines 50-odd years in the life of its eponymous subject -- a most compelling character -- and in doing so literally provides the viewer with food for thought.
01/27/06
A loose, amiable documentary tracking several decades in the life of this most unusual farmer.
01/27/06
Despite the film's goofy title and quirky imagery, it's a hugely depressing tale.
01/26/06
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
A fascinating character study ...
01/22/06
Too much of this self-congratulatory one-man-show in the guise of a documentary remains real...muddy.
01/19/06
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
Regardless 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
Effectively links the political and artistic rebellions of the '60s to the ecological movements of today, while mounting a strong case against the effects of today's agribusiness monoliths.
01/19/06
Top CriticThis is a loving, moving, inspiring, quirky documentary that was made while the lives it records were being lived.
01/19/06
Top CriticRT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Wes Anderson on Fox 
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Animated Oscar?
Hollywood.com ponders whether or not an animated film could win Best Picture.
TIME's Holiday Movie Preview
Richard Corliss previews the season's best offerings and hottest tickets.
Scenic Routes
The AV Club's Mike D'Angelo airs his beefs with Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds