The Straight Story (DVD)

The Straight Story is a 1999 film directed by David Lynch. The central protagonist of the film is Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), a frail but dignified and proud 73-year-old man who gets around rather unsteadily with the aid of a pair of walking sticks. The grizzled Alvin is a World War 2 veteran and lives quietly with his daughter Rose (Sissy Spacek), a simple soul troubled by painful separation from her children, in rural Iowa. One night during a big thunderstorm, a troubled Alvin finds out that his long estranged brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton) has suffered a stroke and resolves to go and see him in person to mend their relationship before it is too late. ...  Read the complete review

Possibly one of the slowest pace films you will ever watch, but a good film nonetheless. Whilst virtually impossible not to give *the plot* away, the story tells of an old man, 73 year old Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), who attempts to travel some 260 miles from Iowa to Wisconsin to visit his brother Lyle who has had a stroke, and to whom he has not spoken for 10 years. This may not sound like much of a story, but it is the fact that he travels this distance alone on a lawnmower and trailer, which is so fascinating. Although the people I first watched this film with managed to laugh through much of the beginning of the film, as a result of the slow pace of ...  Read the complete review

The Straight Story is a film that has everything summed up in it's title. There are no plot twists and intricate weavings between the characters. This may sound pretty boring but to be quite honest this is one of the best films I've seen in ages. Based on a true story, Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) is an old man; he's poor, has little money and is incredibly stubborn in some respects. The only person close to him is his mentally slow daughter Rose (Sissy Spacek). One day he receives a phone call telling him that his estranged brother has suffered a stroke. Alvin feels the need to make amends but his brother lives a long way across America. ...  Read the complete review

Alvin's eyesight is deteriating along with his health and he can't stand being driven anywhere by someone else. When he discovers his estranged brother has had a near fatal stroke he decides to go and see him on the last available transport he can drive....his lawnmower. The Straight Story covers Alvin's six week journey to see his brother , the many meetings with strangers on the way (Alvin leaves his impression on everyone) and the hundreds of miles he worries about the fate of his brother. This film is wonderfully acted particularly by Richard Farnsworth (Alvin), Sissy Spacek as his daughter Rose, and a nice ,if short cameo by Harry Dean Stanton. ...  Read the complete review