The Straight Story

Released 1999
Stars Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Jennifer Edwards, Barbara E. Robertson, John Farley, Harry Dean Stanton
Directed by David Lynch

"The Straight Story" is based on the true story of 73 year-old Alvin Straight, who drove his lawn mower over 300 miles to see his brother in Wisconsin. It's a beautiful story about the sadness of an old man, who has too many regrets and is reaching the end of his life. The wonderful thing about Alvin is he tries to do something about one of those regrets. He also imparts the wisdom he's gained from his own mistakes to others along the way in a quiet, unassuming manner that's impossible to ignore.

This was a personal story for me, in that it's a mid-western tale, and it reminded me of home. I grew up on a farm just like any of the hundreds that Alvin drives by, and the kindness and generosity of the farmers was right on. The people he met along the way could have been my dad, my grandfathers, or my neighbors.

Although this movie is rated G, it's not intended for children. Pre-teens, as well as most teens, would be bored out of their minds. This is a gentle movie intended for adults who can appreciate the fear and sadness associated with old age, the regrets of past actions that can't be undone, and the kindness of strangers. This is clearly one of the best films of 1999 and should have been nominated for Oscars for both Best Picture and Cinematography. At least Richard Farnsworth was nominated for Best Actor. As good as Kevin Spacey was in "American Beauty," Farnsworth deserved the Oscar more for his subtle, moving performance.

Summary by Bill Alward