The Straight Story [DVD]

Incredible story, incredible actors. I am sorry I rented it. If I had known how good the movie is, I would have bought it.

I have just finished watching The Straight Story finally after trying to catch it for some months. There are only a few movies that touch something deep inside, a raw emotion that changes the way you think about all that is dear to you. Forgiveness, redemption, compassion, the simple things in life such as family and friends, the place where you grew up, a clear night sky.But the Straight Story is so much more. It is a simple tale of a man who, in his own words "has seen just about all there is to see" and yet realises that before he dies, he has one wrong left to undo.So Alvin Straight drives his lawnmower 300 miles to see a brother that he hasn't spoken to in over ten years. He refuses help along the way, telling those on the road that he has to do this in his own way; this is his rite of passage. Amends perhaps for estranging his own brother...Along the way, he meets many people and he tells them a little of his story which helps to show us a little more of Alvin's motives. One of the most poignant is his conversation with a fellow old timer about their deeds during the War. Another favourite scene is when he's talking to a runaway about the strength to be found in family.Visually, I have always liked David Lynch's work and the Straight Story, despite being a massive departure from his usual surrealist approach is trademark Lynch. The cinematography is simply stunning. The wide camera angles and slow movement conveys and enhances the American midwest and seems to compliment somehow the peaceful yet dilligent frame of mind of the central character.Richard Farnsworth is brilliant as Alvin Straight. Deep rheumy eyes and a heavily wrinkled face show a man who has lived and yet burdened with with his own regrets.The supporting characters that Alvin meets along the way are good and honest people. Such a nice change from all the badness in the world. And his final meeting with Lyle, his brother, is pure magic. Hats off to Harry Dean Stanton who, when he asks Alvin if he drove all the way on a lawnmower just to see him and Alvin says yes, the look in his eyes he gives back closes the film beautifully.Put simply, The Straight Story is an honest and gentle tale of human goodness and only those without a soul could find this film less than enjoyable. Definitely one for the DVD collection and a movie that deserves to become a classic. Highly recommended.

Beautiful movie. Harry Dean Stanton isn’t in it for long, but what a performance!

What a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours! I found this film interesting and engaging; entertaining and amusing. David Lynch’s films are usually a little odd but he stays very much on the straight and narrow here.This offering won’t blow you away but it will leave you with a feeling of satisfaction at the close. There are some great little cameos tucked away in here, non-more so than when Alvin is negotiating his repair bills or divulging his awful secret from WW11.His charm is that he is very street wise, candid in his convictions, but also willing to give the folks he meets the benefit of his experience - the young female hitch hiker for instance? Oh yes, he also likes hot dogs!However, just because age is on his side, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he gets it all right? This journey is made as a realization that certain things have to be put right – before it’s too late!Sadly, as previously mentioned in other reviews, Richard Farnsworth had cancer whilst making this film. A year later its diagnosis was terminal; Richard shot himself at his 60 acre ranch in New Mexico. He was nominated for several major ‘best actor’ awards for this role - it’s a pity they escaped him. Nonetheless, he still had a very satisfactory career in film and television.

Absolutely loved this film, it nearly broke me emotionally but in such an uplifting manner!I hadn’t heard of it before but always enjoyed David Lynch films so decided to investigate & so glad i did

It's good.

Richard Farnsworth, who was a Hollywood stunt man amongst other things in his long film career turns in a wonderful warm and sensitive performance as an elderly disabled man who has impaired mobility and failing sight who decides to take a journey of several hundred miles from Idaho to Wisconsin to see his brother, perhaps for the last time, with whom he quarreled ten years earlier. He decides to ride there on a motorised lawnmower because he is not allowed to drive because of his failing sight.There is comparitively little action in the film - it is a story of a man impelled to embark on a long journey to right a wrong and make amends whilst there is still time. It is about how he gets there against all the odds, the kind people he meets along the way and how their interaction affects the lives of all concerned. He is a man who harbours guilt about an event during the second world war and because he hears that his brother had suffered a serious stroke he realises that both of them may die before they could be reconciled. He remembers how close they were when they were young, how they slept in the open air at the farmstead where they lived, how they often talked far into the night while gazing at the stars and he is desperate to repair their broken relationship before it is too late.It is an absorbing, moving and memorable film enhanced by beautiful photography of the mid west scenery, lovely music and a terrific central performance by Farnsworth who dominates the film and I believe it is the best film that director Mike Leigh has made.

An old man learns his estranged brother is ill, not having spoken to each other, he decides to visit him probably for the last time. There is only one problem, he doesn't have any transport except for his John Deere lawn tractor. So he loads up his trailer, hitches it up to the tractor and sets off on his epic journey to see hi brother. The film follows the journey, complete with all the events that occur on the way. The amusing moments and the heart rending problems that blight his way and how he has to overcome the road. Watch it if you can, to begin with you wonder what could happen to make it worth watching, but it doesn't take long before you are rooting for him to get there. Worth every penny.

Excellent movie, take out from library; I he one we ordered from Amazon was damaged by Puralator in shipping; never received!

Un film che ti mette in pace con il mondo. Che ti costringe a rallentare (e quanto ci fa bene rallentare ogni tanto!), per seguire il suo ritmo.Storia di base semplice. Ma di uno spessore e di una bellezza rari.E poi, come sempre, è il tipo di narrazione e lo sviluppo della storia stessa che fanno la differenza.Ottimi protagonisti.

Film magnifique et grandiose, vraiment a avoir dans sa collection.

This movie-"The Straight Story" I purchased online through Amazon is one of the Best I have seen in a long time.I am not much of a movie watcher-but after recently losing a dear Friend and Supervisor where I worked to cancer...I happened by chance to see some of this Movie on TV one night.It was a workday weeknight and it came on later in the evening,so I stayed up as long as I could to see it...but having to be up at 4AM to go to work...I had to not see it all.I found it after it had started as well,so I had no idea of it's name.The story though...was amazing!...and the actors in it were so "Real People"and mostly,the Character Alvin Straight.I was stunned!....Not only did he have the same personality and almost the very same voice as my Friend Dennis...he also looked like Denis and his mannerisms and way of thinking...his quiet yet sensible demeanor and way of looking at life and daily troubles were so much like my Friend...it left me feeling hard to believe I wasn't looking and hearing my Friend Dennis.If I didn't know it wasn't Dennis...I would have thought it was a small clip out of his life on film.My Friend even lived in the Country too.I found out about 2 years after seeing this movie on TV as I described...and by mentioning it in conversation whilst reminiscing about my Supervisor/Friend with another fellow worker and Friend,he suggested I go to go to Google and type in what the story was about..."Man travels across country on a John Deer Tractor"...in an instant...this movie was found.I ordered 2 copies and received them in about 1 and 1/2 weeks time.Except for some inside damage to the actual DVD cases...(The small button pop in the middle that holds the DVDs in place were broken on each one-so the DVDs and the broken piece were rattling around inside the packages loose)I played one of them,there was no damage to the DVD that affected the playing of the movie...It was as if I had experienced a visit with my Buddy Dennis.I gave the second copy I purchased to my Friend's Wife and Daughter and Grandson.I am not one to watch a movie twice but this one-because of the personal Connection it made with me is so well done-I will watch it from time to time as a reminder of my Buddy Dennis.The Straight StoryBeautifully done,this movie is one the entire family can enjoy...it is a real escape from the harshness of today's world and I highly recommend it.The messages you will receive from this video will warm your heart and mabey some of it will even rub off on the way you think of each other as people.Especially when it comes to the importance of patching up differences with estranged Family and Friend's in our Life.There is some dry humor and some valuable life lesson's in it.Everyone who is looking for an escape to simpler times and way of Life and what's really important should watch this.... Joe Hovorka-Ajax,Ont.

It is the silences opened up that define this film. Spaces for reflection and contemplation. A rare treat.