The Worst Film Ever

Purely Joyful Movie!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

No twist, no sudden reveal, no fancy film-making, as evidenced by the title, "The Straight Story" is a simple and straightforward story about a man named Alvin Straight, who went through a five-week journey across the Midwest, from Iowa to Mississippi to settle some record with his dying brother. It is also one of the sweetest and most heart-warming movies from, of all the directors, David Lynch. As if he embraced the name of the main character, Lynch plays it 'straight' and doesn't indulge to his usual trademarks, there are a few bits of weirdness here and there but they all feel genuine and true to life.Alvin Straight is a man in his 70's, his health has been declining, bad hips, bad vision, bad habits, but he's one of these stubborn men who don't like being told what to do. He's quite lucid about his condition and knows his living days are numbered but this is not an existentially stationary film, it doesn't contemplate the passing of time. Like the best existential movies, this one is combined with a road trip, the inevitable parallel between the road and the path we're invited to take in order to discover more about the protagonist then about ourselves, each encounter is the opportunity to learn something. And even in the film, people are curious about Alvin, how couldn't they? When you meet a man in his 70's determined to visit his brother the hard way, riding a lawn mower, you want to have a few words with him.There's a campfire sequence with a young hitchhiker during which he presents one of the most touching metaphors about the value of family, I won't spoil it but the film finds a touching way to show that the message has been heard. Then he meets a group of cocky youngsters and one of them has a very bold question: "what's the worst thing about being old". That answer I will spoil because it's all in the speechless reaction it inspires: "remembering when you were young". I could feel Alvin was giving the cocky bastard a taste of his own medicine without hurting him, it's not much the memories of being young than simple and straight memories. Our past is what makes the present difficult and the older we are, the heavier the burden is. And as the story progresses, Alvin's relief grows. The longer chapter of this glorious odyssey involves a trip in a small town where Alvin shares a few memories with another World War II veteran and then you realize these people were not called the greatest generation for nothing, the greatness isn't a comment on their human value but the level of crap they had to deal with before supposedly getting back to the real world. These are guys who had jobs, lead a routine life while trying to hide back their trauma under some habits, such as alcohol or smoking, never mind, these things backfired at them and in Alvin's situation, he can only meditate on what's left from his life and translate it into something good and valuable. The trip culminates with an advice given to two brothers that ends with the perfect quotation "a brother's a brother".In that scene, there's a moment when he says "am I charged for something good or something new", which means that he's supposed to pay for quality rather than newness and that's exactly what Alvin's presence is about. But at that point I should say that's what the presence of Richard Farnsworth is about. The actor, remembered for his performance as the sheriff in "Misery" was a former stunt-man and entered the acting business quite late, a late-bloomer as we say, but he managed to garner a lot of attention and Oscar nomination, this performance as well. I think he didn't play an old man, he was himself, which all the positive things and negative if we count the declining health. It is known that the actor was battling cancer and unfortunately, he put an end to his life before the misery (no pun intended) would get worse, but as far as epitaph performance go, there couldn't have been a better one, it felt so real.Whenever he smiles, he cries, he acts or reacts, I see a man with a past as rich and emotional as life can be, and as I hope my life will be, and when health gets declining, you try to keep the spirits in a good mood and never let anyone stop you. "The Straight Story" takes a long time to take off, there are many pauses and incident but no matter what, the man keeps on going, he doesn't even let himself go in a house, he calls it stubbornness, it's more than that, this man carries some guilt and he tries to atone for it, it's about faith, it's about dignity. We never know what exactly he did until the end where he's about to say something, and let's just say that the conclusion is just perfect.This is a film to embrace with all the feelings it has to feature, joy, sadness and melancholy and a few installments of oddity that belongs to Lynch, but it also a movie that invite us to appreciate life and nature. There are a lot of great shots in the film, the camera is like caressing the vast landscapes, the wheat fields, the green acres but even a storm is enjoyable, for some reason, like Alvin, like Farnsworth, we embrace the value of these things as perceived by Alvin. That's the power of "The Straight Story".

''The Straight Story'' is an authentic, heart-warming and optimistic road movie about an old man who wants to make peace with his estranged brother and goes on a long trip on his lawn mower to meet him one last time. This film is basically the antithesis of David Lynch's other movies which are often gloomy, surreal and uneasy. Still, there are a few typical David Lynch trademarks in this film. The characters are very eclectic and developed in a detailed manner. The camera techniques are calm and smooth. The movie's pace is slow and I would even describe it as peaceful.One thing that stands out is the acting of Richard Farnsworth. It doesn't feel like he is playing a character. It feels like he is just being himself: a stubborn, thoughtful and wise old man who wants to do things his way. This character is very likable which helps viewers caring for or even identifying with the character. Even the side characters are very profound and sympathetic. The main character only meets friendly people along the road that help him out when he is running out of money, looking for shelter or having an accident. I thought that the conversation with a young female runaway about family values around a campfire and the conversation between two war veterans in a bar were absolute emotional highlights of this film. Scenes like these offer a lot of food for thought and may make more sensitive viewers cry because they are so beautiful. The dialogues add a lot to this since they are written with great care. The main character doesn't speak much but when he does so, he always has something meaningful to say. Since the movie is based upon true events, it even feels more authentic and could be situated somewhere between a drama and documentary.The movie has a very philosophical side without ever being pretentious. Recurring topics are the beauty of nature, coping with loss and sadness, dealing with painful memories, the downsides of getting old, the meaning of life, optimism and perseverance in difficult circumstances and the values of family and friendship. While younger audiences might find this movie too smooth, it has so much depth and talks about what life really is about. I would suggest any teenager or young adult to experience this film with an open mind and to think about the real essence of life beyond money, popularity and wealth.David Lynch once said that ''The Straight Story'' might be his most experimental film and this is definitely the case. It's an emotional, meaningful and wise movie where sensitive scriptwriters, an imaginative director and gifted actors joined forces to create a truly beautiful gem that should be more popular than it is.

An absolute delight. From director David Lynch, The Straight Story finds the famous purveyor of the oblique on wonderfully mellow form. Story finds a superb Richard Farnsworth as Alvin Straight, an old boy long in the tooth who sets off across America on his lawn mower to visit his estranged brother. You see, he doesn't have a driving licence, so lawn mower is the viable form of transport.Lynch and writers John Roach & Mary Sweeney have offered up a wry and astute observation of Americana. The journey Alvin takes involves him meeting a number of eccentrics and confused souls, which pitches Alvin as our conduit to a rich view of the life we have - or will - live. Culminating in a finale that rewards anyone with an intelligent soul. The message is clear.A beautiful film for the beautiful of heart. 9/10

I'm writing review about a film that I haven't watched for about a year. However before that it had been 4 or 5 times I had that pleasure and it's just now when I decided to comment. The straight story is the tale about the journey to the beginning. Well , they say that childhood comes two times in life. Once in the first years of life and another at the end of the life, off course if you're lucky enough to reach old age. But that's not the childhood i want to talk about, but the thing around the childhood, cause that's the time when you're i guess "Truest" of all. And you are also part of family, part of what gave you a birth and what in fact you are. And all the family members are part of you. But then comes the time when you go away, you become a little bit stranger. However when you become old you want to rejoin your roots. And that's what Straight Story's magic is. Alvin Straight is making journey through the beautiful landscapes of America but also he's making journey to the past , and that past is future, and both of them are the combining parts of that "Truest". And what Alvin does on the road is just to share everything he learned during his life with people who still have time to go that road. Straight story has the most natural philosophy of all. Here are neither suffered Bergmanic faces talking about the deep spiritual emptiness, nor the half smiling Godaric faces talking about the meaning of life in metro. Here everything is clear, everything comes to the surface and that's what makes the movie a masterpiece. Lynchs dynamic a little bit bleak directing, Badalamenti's masterful score and photographer's outstanding work off course are also in business. I do really think that it's the greatest Lynch film ever. And probably the best picture of all 90's.