Review of The Straight Story (1999) by Stuart K — 08 May 2009

David Lynch has spent most of his career making dark and extremely weird films such as Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and Wild At Heart. Here, he went in the other direction entirely, almost like what he'd done with The Elephant Man, and made a serious, down to earth story.

The result is one of the best films of David Lynch's career, and it does make you wonder why he doesn't make more films like this?? The film tells the true story of 73 year old widower Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), who lives in the quiet town of Laurens, Iowa with his daughter Rosie (Sissy Spacek).

One day, he gets word that his brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton) has had a stroke. Unable to drive, and unwilling to take the bus to Mt. Zion, Wisconsin, (over 300 miles away), Alvin uses a lawnmower to take the journery on to patch up a soured relationship, he meets people along the way, inspiring them and picking up something along the way, but it's his determination that keeps him going.

The Straight Story is a beautiful film, very touching and warm too. It feels real without being dark, even if alot of scenes are odd in a quirky way. It's beautifully shot by Freddie Francis, and it makes the state of Iowa look beautiful.

Alvin Straight is an inspiration to us all, it's a slow road movie, and all the better for it!! :).