Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A beautiful, economical and heartfelt film
David Lynch, one of the contemporary cinema's true magicians, converts his power to casting white magic in this quietly intoxicating ode to silent reflection and natural beauty. One of the great keys to telling a great story on film lies in not what is said and done, but often what isn't. This is admittedly what often turns me away from Lynch's other works. Here, he embraces economy and finds gentle hope in America's heartland. "The Straight Story" is exactly what the title implies: a story about sticking to the essentials of honest linear narrative structure and leaving out anything extra. It is so promising that this film was made even at all. All too often, Film makers treat their audiences like idiots and feel that every motivation, thought and reaction must be dictated through rapid editing, snappy one-liners, super stunts and CGI effects all set to a blaring soundtrack. "The Straight Story" is a movie about quiet truths and requires the audience to fill in the blanks. Fine case in point: in the film, Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) listens to a woman vent about running over deer. As she screeches off in her compact car, Alvin simply stares down at the deer. Usually, the filmmaker will insist upon some quick quip that comments on the action and the character, but not here. We simply move on to see Straight cooking a piece of venison over a campfire while being stared at by a molded plastic deer lawn sculpture. The scene where Farnsworth and another aged actor whisper and bare the scars of the their wartime experiences is also another fine moment that simply happens. Lynch allows the camera to lovingly and tenderly hold on his actors' beautifully weatherbeaten faces. These are wise men who have seen much more than we could ever possibly imagine. Sissy Spacek, Richard Farnsworth and the rest of the cast give fully fleshed out and three dimensional characters. The film is quietly moving without the slightest hint of sentimental seasoning. It earns its happy ending honestly. Thank you David Lynch for creating a genuine near classic work of American Film Art. A worthy addition to any home film library. And one the entire family can watch and enjoy.
Rating:  - "That bundle . . . that's family."
Seeing a "G" rated movie in this day and age is unusual. Yet that's nothing compared to the departure cult director David Lynch made in making this film. This film is not a head trip like Mulholland Drive. It's actually the most straightforward film made in a long time. Does it work? Well . . . not really. The Straight Story is the story of Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), a simple man from a small sleepy town who discovers that his brother is dying. Straight resolves himself to see his brother one last time but he has a problem - his vision is so bad he can no longer drive. He, therefore, comes up with a novel solution - he will make the 300 mile trek on a tractor-style lawn mower. This literal journey is accompanied by another journey Straight makes into his past as he recalls memories joyful (stargazing with his brother) and painful (an unfortunate incident while serving in the army). Farnsworth gives a sweet and sincere performance but aside from that, the film is long and dull. The characters Straight meets along the way are great representations of real-life people. However, that's the problem. Real people can be unfortunately uninteresting at times and this film proves that point. None of the characters Straight encounters can provide a spark to the film. There's a momentary jolt of energy when Straight meets a woman who is distraught over hitting "another" deer on a country road but that sequence is over in a flash. The final reunion with Straight's brother is also strangely unfulfilling. In fact, unfulfilling is the one word that perfectly describes this film as a whole.
Rating:  - Wonderful human interest story
Richard Farnsworth has been acting 63 years. That's a long time as a supporting and character actor. He gets his big opportunity to be a leading man at age 79 and he nails it. Farnsworth plays Alvin Straight who takes a cross country odyssey on a riding mower to see his ailing brother with whom he has not spoken in ten years.This is a warm and touching story that takes its time unfolding. Alvin's journey is a journey for the viewer as well. It is an excellent character study of a proud and cantankerous old man who is determined to cling to his self sufficiency and dignity and for whom failure is not an option. It reminds us that behind the eyes of those old faces that we so often push aside, there are real people with strong principles, wisdom, experience and emotions worth far more than the value we place on them. Director David Lynch is to be commended for transcending his own usually bizarre mold in this film. Though his pacing is decidedly slow, so is the lawnmower, so it is appropriate. The prelude to Alvin's getting on the road was particularly deliberate and might have been condensed a bit, but once on the road the pacing was perfectly adapted to the story. The locations were terrific, with numerous aerial shots of our beautiful heartland. The story was presented with sensitivity and simplicity without a lot of visual gimmickry. It's good to see a film where the story and not the filmmaking is the point. Farnsworth gives the performance of his career. His portrayal makes Alvin determined and stubborn, but in a way that is lovable and charismatic. His ability to distill complex emotions into simple expressions was masterful. My only real criticism was that Sissy Spacek gave what I thought was a sub-par performance for her. I thought she overdid the speech impediment to the point where it hindered the dialogue. This is an absorbing and wonderful human interest story. I rated it a 9/10. For those looking for fast paced action, this is not your movie. For everyone else, see it soon and enjoy its simple enchantment.
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