Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A Study Of The Human Spirit
It's a journey of the soul as a man goes home in his heart, in this dramatization of the true story of Alvin Straight, who drove a lawn mower over three-hundred miles through the state of Iowa and into Wisconsin, to see his brother, a stroke victim with whom he had not spoken for ten years. "The Straight Story," directed by David Lynch, recounts the story of Alvin (Richard Farnsworth), who set out to see his brother, Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton), upon hearing of his stroke. Alvin is prevented from driving because of poor eyesight, and he won't take a bus because he doesn't trust another's driving. A widower who lives with his daughter, Rose (Sissy Spacek), Alvin, not a man of means, resorts to the only way he knows how, to get to Lyle. He needs to put the bad blood behind them before it's too late; an estrangement born of "anger and pride." Hauling a make-shift trailer, and with three five-gallon cans of gas and a cooler full of hot dogs, Alvin sets out, alone and determined, on his lawn mower. Now in the twilight of his life, having learned to "separate the wheat from the chaff," the trip affords Alvin plenty of time to reflect on his life, and steels him in his quest to do what he feels he has to do. Along the way he befriends and is befriended by the strangers he encounters; a testimony to the bountifulness of the human spirit. When a young man asks him what the worst thing is about being old, he replies, "Remembering when you were young." Richard Farnsworth gives the performance of a lifetime as Alvin, this stubborn, prideful man, who has learned humility with age, and you can see the wisdom of his years in his eyes. Farnsworth connects with the audience from the beginning, aptly conveying the yearning of a soul in need of atonement, and the determination of the man to effect his amends. Sissy Spacek, also, gives a terrifically nuanced performance as Rose, the "slow" daughter who lives daily with demons of her own. That the members of the Academy failed to nominate her for best-supporting actress for her work here is nothing short of criminal; her Rose is a beautiful piece of work. David Lynch, as well, has done a remarkable job of bringing Alvin's story to the screen. He has woven a rich visual and emotional tapestry, all poignantly delivered with a gentle hand. Beautifully photographed, the lush vistas of the Midwest reflect Alvin's state of mind, underscoring the deeper meanings of what is really a spiritual journey, during which the past mingles with the present. Lynch has taken a wistful, almost poetic approach throughout, which, together with the story is reminiscent of Ingmar Bergman's "Wild Strawberries." The scene in which Alvin finally meets up with Lyle is perfectly and touchingly executed, and is one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. The supporting cast includes James Cada (Danny), Everett McGill (Tom), Barbara E. Robertson (Deer Woman), John Farley (Thorvald), and Kevin P. Farley (Harold). With an artistic hand, Lynch has crafted an unforgettable film. "The Straight Story" is Alvin's story, but the journey belongs to us; a reminder of what is really important in life, and the needs we all share at one time or another. It's an entertaining movie that will touch you and make you think, as well; and as far as I'm concerned, that's about as good as it gets.
Rating:  - Simply beautiful
First of all, it's an absolute crime that Richard Farnsworth lost to Kevin Spacey for best actor. We shouldn't be all that shocked that David Lynch made this movie. After all, remember, he did make The Elephant Man, and half of Blue Velvet, including the ending, is pure Norman Rockwell. What's shocking is that The Straight Story didn't get more attention, what with everyone bewailing Hollywood's hand in our country's "moral decline." On that subject, my favorite line in the film comes after Alvin careens down the hill. A woman asks if he's afraid to be out on the road alone because "there are weird people everywhere these days." Weird people, indeed. The woman has listened to too many talk shows and Republicans. The country is falling apart, right? So why is it that everywhere Alvin goes he meets kind people, generous people, warm people? Everyone in America should see this movie and make themselves believe in it. I wanted to respond to one reviewer from Lumberton, NC who said that Blue Velvet ("absolute garbage" as he called it) was about his hometown. All billboards and commercials in BV identify the town as Lumberton, USA, and it's clearly meant to be a kind of mythic place somewhere in Lynch's native Northwest. Blue Velvet took Rockwell's idealized, propagandized, America to task, but The Straight Story gives us real people in a real place. It's a beautiful movie. Watch it as soon as possible.
Rating: - The Greatest Generation Shows All of Us the Way--Again
As John Straight, Richard Farnsworth evokes two seemingly disparate traits: tenacity and serenity. On the one hand, his quiet determination to drive a John Deere tractor/lawnmower across Iowa, with an old, broken-down trailer behind him, to see his ailing brother Kyle in neighboring Wisconsin, is tenaciousness defined. On the other hand, when he gazes silently at the immense, star-filled night sky above him, his eyes beam complete and total peacefulness and serenity to the moviegoer.. Sissy Spacek, as Straight's slightly "retarded" but wise daughter, masterfully plays her role--as usual. Her understanding of her father demonstrates the depth of "life knowledge" that many so-called retarded persons acquire as they deal with life. Spacek's mournful gazing at the little boy playing on the sidewalk outside her house is quite touching. Yes, the "action", as it were, moves slowly, but that becomes a plus, lending a calm and easy pace to the film that, to me, is especially welcome. It is not seen nearly enough on today's movie screens. This is a movie that requires each viewer to look within himself in search of the "don't sweat the small stuff" attitude seen in Farnsworth's evocative and splendid performance. I recommend this movie to EVERYONE. It's full of "roses"; all one need do is look for them and smell them.
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