Rating: 
Summary: Midwestern Western
Review: I didn't notice until the second time I watched it (on this beautiful DVD), but this film is a Midwestern Western: the old cowboy taking his last ride across the land that he loves, meeting up with regular folks and conversing in simple, pithy dialogue, sharing their commonality and then moving on.
Rating:
Summary: David Lynch's Destined Masterpiece
Review: With 'A Straight Story' David Lynch has redeemed himself forever. No matter what I thought or said about his previous (and probably subsequent)work, he has more than made up for it. 'The Straight Story' is so pristine, so miraculously genuine, that it doesn't seem to be the work of the man who brought us 'Blue Velvet.' Lynch seemed to be striving to outdo David Cronenberg in his fascination with sickos and his attention to the bizarre just around the corner from the everyday. He has managed, with 'A Straight Story,' to finally make The Great American Movie.
Rating: 
Summary: What the hey?
Review: Hard to believe this movie came from the same mind that gave us "Eraserhead" and "Blue Velvet", but then again maybe not. This is the story of an old man traveling 350 miles to see his estranged brother. On a rider lawn mower. That's it. That's the plot and it will either emotionally move you, or bore you. I highly recommend it to those who are looking for something more from a movie than car chases and explosions. If you're the kind of movie viewer who will spend your time wondering why the old dude didn't just take a bus, then stay away. Beautiful and subtle cinematagraphy and acting. The only critcism I might have is a couple of the acting performances, but Richard Farnsworth is the main man here and he should have received more attention than he got for this roll.
Rating:
Summary: "The Straight Story"
Review: If you read the editorial review and the many customer reviews for this movie, all will tell you the same, "great story, great acting, great directing - great movie." By no means, do I disagree with anyone who feels this is a great movie. But instead of writing about what everyone already knows, which is, that this is a wonderful film, I would like to point out the two unforgettable men of this film - Alvin Straight and Richard Farnsworth. Alvin Straight gave us this story. He gave us a story of courage, perseverance, wisdom, and forgiveness. Alvin's story made me wish I knew him personally. It made me wish I was one of those fortunate people that he met during his journey. Richard Farnsworth gave us Alvin. Again, everyone agreed that Richard Farnsworth's portrayal of Alvin was impeccable, and it truly was. But to me, I do not believe that Mr. Farnsworth solely resorted to his acting abilities for this portrayal. I believe he identified with Alvin's physical and emotional trials, since Mr. Farnsworth, himself, was suffering from a terminal illness. And like Alvin, Mr. Farnsworth forged on through the pain. He gave a flawless performance and completed his last film. In many ways, Mr. Farnsworth was giving us himself while he was giving us Alvin. To sum it up, "The Straight Story" went straight to my heart, as it did with every person who witnessed this extraordinary film.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the masterpiece I expected
Review: I purchased this movie "sight unseen" because I had seen previews and had read a little about it here. While I think Richard Farnsworth did a beautiful acting job, and it is certainly a breath of fresh air from some of the films that are out and about today, I was disappointed that it did "grab me and take me in". While I thought Farnsworth's acting was great, as usual; I've seen Sissy Spacek put in more effort in other films, but there were parts of this film that dragged along and there were a few scenes, when he had set up his trailer/tent in the back yard of the folks who help him when the tractor breaks down, that didn't make sense. The scenes were filmed far away and though the actors were talking you couldn't make out what they were saying. I suppose these scenes had their purpose in the movie, but I found them annoying. Also some of the scenes ended quickly and strangely as though it was cutting to a commercial (as you would see on television--fade to black). Overall, though, the message got through and it was an inspiring film. Richard Farnsworth deserved an award for his performance. I just don't think there is anything in there that reaches out and embraces you. Even the several scenes that showed the country side were a little boring (rows and rows of wheat fields (?). Even the scenes where he gazes at the stars looks unreal (too many stars) and you could tell some of them were laid over top another field of stars. I agree with another reviewer that the musical score was not up-to-par either. It's not something I really would want to watch again and my teenagers both thought it was a "little boring". I agree.
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming
Review: My family greatly enjoyed this simple and heartwarming movie. It isn't often you can sit down and watch a movie as a whole family in today's world. This is a wonderful story of love for family and finding a way to heal old wounds without lengthy and wasteful dialog. It is amazing that this movie was made in today's hollywood where sex, violence, and car chases take precidence over a great story line. Richard Farnsworth is magical and shows us what acting is all about.
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Accomplishment
Review: A surprise and a total shock coming from David Lynch; a director who has, in my humble opinion, disappointed me more times than not. "The Straight Story" is simply the best film made in the last decade and will one day finally be regarded as the masterpiece it truly is. How Disney could have bungled the marketing of this great film is beyond reasoning. It is rated G but is no more of a "family" film than "The Tigger Movie" could be considered porn. Children could never understand its deliberate pacing and complex emotional core of patience and moral responsibility. By the end of the film I was choking back tears and so moved I could hardly get out of my seat. Richard Farnsworth and Sissy Spacek give performances that make you remember what acting on film used to mean. Please do yourself a favor and watch it somewhere quiet with no interference so that you may listen and savor this extraordinary movie. There will not be any more like it for many, many years.
Rating:
Summary: Understated Brilliance
Review: Richard Farnsworth's recent death is a tragic loss, a point driven home when viewing this wonderful story. Pace? As slow and relaxed as the lawnmower he rides. Plot? As simple, pithy and sweet as life itself. 5 Stars? Watch Mr. Farnsworth's performance -- or to be precise, see what is NOT there to clutter it up -- and you'll wish you had a sky full of stars to award. (And for you parents out there -- while this is not lightweight fare, with its adult themes of forgiveness and reconciliation, we watched it with our 8- and 9-year olds, and they gave it a thumbs up, too. It's not cute, and there's no carchases or explosions, but it is magical.)
Rating: 
Summary: Two hours of my life wasted
Review: Well, I'd heard good things about this film and seen some very interesting advertising ... The potential for this film seemed good. It's already available on DVD here in the UK, so I hired it, and was only too pleased to be able to give it back. How anybody can rave about a film that spends two hours showing a bloke on a lawnmower, with NO comedy sub-plots, very little humour and a REALLY irritating tune that plays through the entire film, well, I guess I can understand why the mental health institutions are still well stocked. I also made the mistake of inviting my family round to watch the film (my father had expressed an interest) ... Needless to say they've declined every offer since ... Save your money, sanity and two hours of your lives and watch paint dry instead ... I only gave this film one star because Amazon don't allow negative values.
Rating:
Summary: A quiet, pensive, thoughtful film.
Review: This film was really all about family, what it means (or should mean) and what you should be willing to do to get it back. Alvin sets out to visit his estanged brother over 300 miles away on a lawnmower - the only vehicle he can drive - taking him over a month to cover the distance. I suppose he wanted to get there his own way, and perhaps to show his brother just how much making up meant to him. It would be very easy to hop on a bus and make an effort, but that wouldn't exactly require 100% commitment, would it? Alvin is obviously out to prove something, to his brother, to himself, and to the world. Along the way he meets various people. He helps some, is helped by others, and simply reminisces with yet more. As he goes along, you get to know him as a gentle, kind old man, with watery eyes and a penchant for wieners. Richard Farnsworth does a great job in this role, and is very convincing. Sissy Spacek is also good , she plays a slightly retarded and troubled daughter. You can tell that this is a true story from the way Alvin's quest to visit his brother has a false start. That kind of thing only happens in real life, if this was a script, a writer would have smoothed that kink out right from the start. Lynch, the Director, does a good job in portraying the vast expanse of the distance that Alvin has to cover, but I thought he could have done better at giving an indication of how long the journey took. There were lots of shots of Alvin chugging along, but you didn't know if they were all in the same day or week or month or what - thus the dropped star. Overall, this is a very nice film, one for a cold night in, relaxing by the fire.
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