Rating: 
Summary: The kinder, gentler David Lynch movie.
Review: "The Straight Story" has the gorgeously colored, semi-surreal look of a typical David Lynch movie, but here the surrealism is lyrical and benign. There are no armies of insects fighting to the death underneath the amber wheatfields, no severed ears in the pristine woods. The overweight next-door neighbor, sunning herself while eating pastel-colored Hostess snowballs, may look weird, but she's perfectly nice. As the title implies, this is the "straight" and deceptively simple story based on the true tale of Alvin Straight, an elderly Iowa man who, hearing that his long-estranged brother has had a stroke, wants to go to Wisconsin and mend fences with him. Too incapacitated himself to drive a car, he hitches a trailer to his riding lawn mower and spends five weeks driving the 300 miles along country roads to his brother's house. That's all there is to it, but it's incredibly moving, thanks to Freddie Francis' gorgeous photography of the Midwest countryside and Lynch's poetic direction. Above all, what makes this movie worth seeing is the exquisite, deeply moving performance of Richard Farnsworth as Alvin Straight. Silent for long stretches of the film, Farnsworth tells the story of Straight's life mainly through his eyes, showing a world of stubborn decency and bitter regret. When Farnsworth does speak--such as his monologue in a bar about his World War II experiences as a sniper--you will never forget it. There is only one recent screen performance that is at all like Farnsworth's--Adrien Brody's in "The Pianist." There is also Sissy Spacek's performance as Straight's mentally challenged daughter Rose; although Spacek's performance seems overly mannered at first, she keeps revealing telling details about Rose until, at the end, her performance is as haunting as Farnsworth's own. "The Straight Story" may have the look and slightly off-kilter feel of a David Lynch movie, but at heart it resembles another recent Disney-released movie, "The Rookie," which also is deeply concerned with the love of family and the need for second chances in life. Both movies are beautifully realized, but "The Straight Story" is an authentic American masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Straight from the Heart
Review: Someone once ridiculed me because I said I loved this "old person's movie". Indeed this movie lacks the sex and violence and sarcasm that dominates today's Gen Xer's video library. But does that make it a film intended strictly for the geriatric crowd? Heck no!! It's one of THE best movies I've ever seen. Perhaps it's because I grew up in a small Illinois town, pop. 550. Perhaps it's because Alvin Straight reminded me so much of my own dad puttering around on his tractor. Perhaps it's because it was so realistic and sweet...whatever the reason, this movie touched me down to the core. I love films based on real-life. Sissy Spacek is cute and believable as Rose. Her stuttering and simplistic portrayal made me feel Rose's pain. And Mr. Farnsworth's interpretation of Alvin is stunning. He is a simple man, there's no doubt about it. Anyone who would jump on a tractor and drive himself hundreds of miles without investing in a bus ticket or thinking to go to the local church to ask for a ride is someone who clearly doesn't accept charity. He probably never considered himself needy. This was his last goal in life, to mend fences between he and his brother. Who didn't grab a hanky at the last scene when they finally reconcile in their quiet, simple way? Too many words pass between people today. If everyone was an Alvin Straight, we'd be doing a lot more thinking and a lot less yammering away. I could rave on and on about this movie, maybe because I'm a country girl at heart. It's a family movie, although young kids will probably get bored. It's not fast-paced, and if you're looking for a climax, you're probably not going to get it. However, if you and your sweetie just want to cuddle up while watching something sweet and adorable and redeeming for the human soul, this is it. And the soundtrack is a MUST. "Rose's Theme" is the best song on the track although all the songs are beautiful and fitting.
Rating:
Summary: STRAIGHT TO THE HEART.
Review: ITS A WONDER MOVIES LIKE THIS EVEN GET MADE. THEY HAVE NO EXPLOSIONS, NO PERVERSE SEXUAL CONTENT, NO SURREAL VIOLENCE AND NO PROFANITY. A FILM YOU CAN WATCH WITH YOUR KIDS, YOUR PARENTS AND YOUR MINISTER.
THE ACTOR RICHARD FARNSWORTH COMITTED SUICIDE SHORTLY AFTER WORKING ON THIS FILM. HE WAS TERMINALLY ILL AND TIRED OF THE PAIN. THATS SAD, BUT THE MAN WHO STARTED OUT AS A COWBOY HORSE WRANGLER ON OLD WESTERNS LEFT US WITH SOME MAGIC AND THIS, HIS FINAL FILM IS A SMALL PART OF IT.
PROBABLY ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, THIS IS THE BEST PRODUCT TO COME OUT OF HOLLYWIERD IN THIRTY YEARS.
FARNSWORTH PLAYS ALVIN STRAIGHT, A MEDICALLY CHALLENGED SENIOR WHO WANTS TO GO VISIT HIS AILING BROTHER IN A BORDERING STATE AND MAKE AMMENDS. HIS ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, A RIDING LAWNMOWER. HE SETS OFF ON HIS PILGRAMAGE WITH WORRYING DAUGHTER BEGGING HIM NOT TO GO.
SISSY SPACEK PORTRAYS THE DIFFERENT DAUGHTER. SPACEK IS THE BEST ACTRESS ALIVE AND TURNS IN YET ANOTHER ASTOUNDING PERFORMANCE, MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT SHE HAILS FROM TEXAS.
STRAIGHT ENCOUNTERS VARIOUS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS ON HIS JOURNEY AND INTERSECTS WITH SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE.
HIS HOME SPUN ADVICE HELPS A YOUNG RUNAWAY FIND HER WAY AND STRAIGHT HIMSELF IS ASSISTED BY GOOD SAMARITANS.
THIS MOVIE IS ABOUT A SIMPLE TRIP FOR THE GOOD OF TWO BROTHERS THAT INSPIRES A HOST OF OTHERS TO HELP EACH OTHER AND THEMSELVES IN THE BARGAIN.
IT IS A WELL DIRECTED, WELL ACTED MORALISTIC STORY ABOUT REAL FOLKS IN THE REAL WORLD. IT WILL GIVE YOU THAT WARM COZY FEELING THAT MOVIES USED TOO, BACK BEFORE HOLLYWOOD WENT TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET.
Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful, economical and heartfelt film
Review: 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: 
Summary: "That bundle . . . that's family."
Review: 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:
Summary: A tender story of age and reconciliation
Review: Most film buffs would be surprised to find David Lynch directing a gentle midwestern film about an aging man traveling hundreds of miles on a John Deer lawn tractor. Alvin Straight (played by Richard Farnsworth) is near perfect in the central role. Sissy Spacek plays Alvin's developmentally disabled daughter. In an age filled with shallow, violent and self-serving movies, this is a rare gem. This a move you can watch with your child or grandparents... though I think it best appreciated by those who have grown old enough to have less life in front of them than in the rear view mirror. The soundtrack for the movie is extraorinary and has a permanent place in my CD player. This is a wonderful film to give as a gift. Watch it once and you'll understand.
Rating:
Summary: beautiful
Review: All I can say besides the solid performances by Farsworth and Spacek, and the gripping simplicity of the story is that it was so beautiful that I wanted to cry.
Rating:
Summary: Love's Highway
Review: There are very few films that I gush over, and this is by far close to the top of my list. I'm not into tons of verbage describing the film's plot, neither am I in the habit of offering any verbose or superfluous words in writing a review on it. Having said that, this film is a gem. I watched this alone, by accident, while channel surfing one evening. At film's end, I ended up bawling like a baby. That hardly, if ever happens. This story is so unique, with so much care taken into making it that you would have to be blind not to recognize the true genius of it all. It has just about every emotion that we have inside us wrapped like a gift sitting under a Christmas tree waiting to be opened. This film will stay with me forever. The best advice I can give is just to see the damn thing! If it doesn't move you, then I am truly sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Fine warm film
Review: I don't have much to add about this movie. It's a touching story done with great effectiveness. ... I thought it was dead on, having known someone with a similar condition. Hope this guy learns a little humanity.
Rating:
Summary: An American Classic For Everyone
Review: David Lynch has created a unique and touching vision of the heart of America. This film is so great, so addicting that I feel it is a disservice to try to describe it in words. It is heartfelt. It is sad. It is celebratory. It is a global cinema classic. It is a glimpse into our nation that most of the world never gets to see. Stop reading this review right now and buy, rent, or borrow this movie.
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