The Straight Story

I want to thank you for your kindness to a stranger. An absolute delight. From director David Lynch, The Straight Story finds the famous purveyor of the oblique on wonderfully mellow form. Story finds a superb Richard Farnsworth as Alvin Straight, an old boy long in the tooth who sets off across America on his lawn mower to visit his estranged brother. You see, he doesn't have a driving licence, so lawn mower is the viable form of transport. Lynch and writers John Roach & Mary Sweeney have offered up a wry and astute observation of Americana. The journey Alvin takes involves him meeting a number of eccentrics and confused souls, which pitches Alvin as our conduit to a rich view of the life we have - or will - live. Culminating in a finale that rewards anyone with an intelligent soul. The message is clear. A beautiful film for the beautiful of heart. 9/10

Beautifully made film. It's a difficult one to describe. 'The Straight Story' features a very touching, true life, story about Alvin Straight. It's a very simple premise but one that the film brings to life wonderfully. There's a crap tonne of heart, alongside some brilliant cinematography and a top notch score. Richard Farnsworth plays the role of Alvin expertly, it's an outstanding performance from him. Credit also to Sissy Spacek, who makes an impact as Rose despite not really being in the film for all that long. Harry Dean Stanton (Lyle) makes an appearance, too. It's a slow burn but one that's totally worth the 112 minute run time. What a great way to end the millennium for Disney's live-action theatrical releases.

I’ve seen loads of road movies over the years, but never one that involved an elderly gent travelling from Iowa to the adjacent Wisconsin driving his lawnmower! “Alvin” (Richard Farnsworth) is a curmudgeonly seventy-something whose health and mobility are failing and who lives with his daughter “Rose” (Sissy Spacek) - a lady without her own problems to seek, too! When he learns that his estranged brother “Lyle” has had a stroke, he determines to visit him after a ten year hiatus. The bus, the train, a plane? Nope. He hitches a trailer to his grass cutter and off he goes. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t get very far before it blows a gasket. Back to square one, he still chooses to shun more traditional (and comfortable) modes of transport and spends what’s left of his savings on a slightly more upmarket tractor - think a wheeled version of a pygmy hippo. As he travels, he encounters a selection of people with whom he engages, eats, shares stories, venison, and even essential repairs and this journey of reflection helps him to put into better perspective just what led to their sibling separation; what caused his daughter’s “illness” and what the future could hold for him if only he gave it a chance. It’s also quite a pleasing vindication of the human spirit as those he meets up with are invariably helpful, interested and sympathetic - even when he isn’t always the easiest to get on with. Farnsworth is entirely natural here (he reminded me a lot of Will Geer) as his rut-like existence becomes laid bare to his own eyes. There’s nothing really contentious here either, it’s just a quirky first-gear cruise down a road of memories, friendship and opportunity and it’s almost entirely devoid of any cloying sentiment, too.