Review of The Straight Story (1999) by Benwomack — 21 Mar 2020

Description: A man has a fall at home. (His daughter lives nearby.).

His brother, over in Wisconsin, has a stroke soon after. (They’re neither getting any younger.).

The man decides to visit his brother, using a lawn-mower- quiet roads, doesn’t need a licence. A crowd of his friends see him off. ….

Life is a journey- and it’s the people you meet along the way.

Reaction: On one level, this is a rather sweet motion picture.

"There's no one knows your life better than a brother that's near your age.

He knows who you are and what you are better than anyone on earth.".

On another, if the sweetness of a film becomes important to you… then:

A) I’m not sure where all the jokes are coming from.

B) Music problem. Too much.

C) The myth of the country. How does it go? Hectic city, placid country. However.

It may be important to know? that in his youth Richard Farnsworth... was a stuntman?

So to see him walk using a Zimmer frame- is a bit of a joke, possibly.

Relationship to the truth:

“Alvin Boone Straight (October 17, 1920 – November 9, 1996) was an American man who became notable for traveling 240 miles on a riding lawn mower from Laurens, Iowa to Blue River, Wisconsin to visit his ailing brother.” (Wikipedia).

I liked it before. Stuck in an elevator with it for the rest of time… not sure what would pass that test. And why am I in an elevator.

Thank you.

Does it use beautiful people to get your attention? Pass.