The Straight Story
Cast
Sissy Spacek .... Rose 'Rosie' Straight
Jane Galloway .... Dorothy, Straight's Next-Door Neighbor (as Jane Galloway Heitz)
Joseph A. Carpenter .... Bud
Donald Wiegert .... Sig
Richard Farnsworth .... Alvin Straight
Directed by
David Lynch
Rater # has description and review.
Rater #1
Has Not Seen Movie
Rater #2
10/10. There are some things you don't expect from some people. You don't
expect a light, quick `n easy movie from Oliver Stone, nor do you
expect something serious and dramatic from Wes Craven. That's why
most people would not believe you if you told them that The Straight
Story was directed by David Lynch. That's right, the person who
brought you backwards talking dreams, fetus children, and midget
cowboys connected to the mafia now has directed a small, quite story
about a 73 year old man who travels 350 miles on a lawnmower to visit
his brother, who has had a stroke.
At about a two-hour length and multiple shots of just Alvin Straight
(Richard Farnsworth) riding his mower across beautiful landscapes,
it's easy for people to complain that The Straight Story is boring
and pointless. Yes, it doesn't have a quick pace, but if you can put
up with that, you'll see that The Straight Story is one of the most
refreshing and, so to speak, intoxicating movies of a long time.
Alvin Straight is just one of the people you would love to get to
know. It's even great to know that there actually was an Alvin
Straight in real life, and he's a character that may not be perfect,
but he's one hell of a guy.
The cinematography is spectacular. Rightly done in a complete wide
screen, it was simply beautiful. I'm not one to gush at landscapes,
but�wow! It was spectacular. It's hard to believe that there are
still actual places like those still left in America. The camera
perfectly captured the area that Alvin Straight drove through.
What really got to me was just how simple everything was, and instead
of letting it all go to shame, it was actually presented simply.
There was nothing that was unbelievable about it, and everything was
done realistically. Alvin Straight had faults, no doubt, but all
people do. There seems to be something almost cosmic about The
Straight Story, something hard to explain. It's flowing with some
sort of rhythm, everything just comes together.
Farnsworth got an Oscar nomination, well deserved. He didn't have to
play someone mentally slow (as Sissy Spacek did in The Straight
Story) or anything that's usual Oscar grabbing material. He just
played an average guy on a mission to perfection. Although Kevin
Spacey won for his outstanding job in American Beauty, I think many
actors could have done his role. Farnsworth is one of a kind in The
Straight Story, just like the movie itself.
Rated G.
Running time: 112 minutes
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