joshfedderson
I haven't watched an emotional movie in a long time, but this one really hit me hard. The Straight story is about an elderly man who makes a long journey of redemption and forgiveness.Alvin Straight is humble old man who lives in a small town called Lawrence in Iowa. He lives with his daughter Rose who is a little slow mentally. One day, Alvin receives a phone call that his brother Lyle has had a serious stroke and who resides in Wisconsin . Not having seen his brother in 10 years, Alvin makes a journey of lifetime, he fixes up his old lawnmower, hitches a trailer to the back of it and hits the road intent on seeing his brother and forgiving him. Along the way he encounters different people and impacts them in a good way. My wife and I watched this for a our Disney marathon and it really touched us. We both thought what it would be like to make the same journey. This movie is very touching and the best part of all is it is true. It is a story about two brothers who were best friends, became bitter enemies, and one brother wants to have that same relationship again and make amends. It will bring tears to your eyes, make you laugh, and make you realize that our lives our short and that the will to forgive and the journey it takes is all worth it. 10/10 for The Straight Story
tomashardy
David Lynch is one of my a-list directors, although Mulholland Dr. is the only one I have ever seen, when my interpretation told me what's it about,I was stunned , from time to time I'm awake in morning ,I know some thing appeared in my dream is what appeared in Mulholland Dr. ,it's awesome.The straight story is my second journey with David Lynch, a totally different experience , but the result is same , stunned.With several split-screens ,Lynch briefly tells the condition about the Straight and his living environment, which raise a question in my head then , how Lynch can weave a 2 hours movie after that? A long journey From Iowa to Mississippi , an old ill-man with his Mower? sounds boring.Alvin Straights' (Farnsworth) first attempt terminated due to the broken of the mower , but when he begins his second attempt, the story start hit me bit by bit , come across a wayward young girl who are running away and the Bundle of sticks fable , which may be a little cliché to me in other place , is now perfectly fit in this story , a nice family helped him when his Mower broke again after a dangerous drive , and the beautiful narrative of the WWII sniper story , lots of detail on the trip , just like a fantastic picture unfold bit by bit slowly , quietly , and emotionally , but the most beautiful part still left at the end of story , when his brother ask him when he saw the almost broken Mower ,'you just drive that thing long way to see me ?',My eyes has the same effect with Straights' brother , my heart was moved totally.In my Cultural desert nation, I'm proud to say that I still be capable of have some feeling in this movie ,and I have to thank David Lynch to let me know it
SnoopyStyle
73-year-old Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) from Laurens, Iowa takes a tumble. His challenged daughter Rose (Sissy Spacek) is concerned. He won't let his doctor do tests. Then he receives word that his estrange brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton) had a stroke. He is determined to go see his brother in Wisconsin. He can't drive and there's no bus. So he decides to modify his lawn mower for the long trip.This is an interesting little indie. There are a lot of tiny oddities in this. First this is directed by David Lynch without any of his usual surreal touches. He is really gentle here letting Farnsworth do his acting. There are some quirky touches here and there. He puts in some beautiful music. Spacek makes an interesting choice with her stutter. She has a funny moment in the beginning. Alvin is an old self-reliant guy. He's charming in his old school ways. The story is funny and bitter sweet.
The_late_Buddy_Ryan
This project was launched by David Lynch's editor (and future wife), Mary Sweeney, who secured the rights and co-wrote the screenplay, then it really took off when Lynch himself signed on to direct and stuntman-turned-character-actor Richard Farnsworth was "coaxed out of semiretirement" (I read somewhere online) to play the lead. As often seems to happen with "based on a true story" movies, the script gets stretched pretty thin at times (the parable about the sticks that Straight tells the teenage runaway seemed familiar from grade school), and the backstory that slowly emerges may seem a little too pat, but Farnsworth's disarmingly natural acting style is just right for the part, and Lynch's eye for the hidden beauty of the nondescript landscape and his perfect pacing bring out all the drama and poignancy of Alvin Straight's journey. Straight's story made me think of what Woody Grant in Alexander Payne's "Nebraska" might have been like if he'd managed to turn his life around.
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