The Straight Story

Starring Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek and Harry Dean Stanton
Screenplay by David Lynch, John Roach and Mary Sweeney
Directed by David Lynch
Straight story website

IN SHORT: Sweet and sentimental and deliberately slow as molasses. [Rated [G], 111 minutes]

If I wasn't so darn old and bordering on the sentimental I could live up to the trademark and dismiss David Lynch's The Straight Story as a tedious and bordering on painful waste of time. But my mom would love this so . . .

Once upon a time there were two brothers who had a falling out and refused to speak with each other ever again. Ten years into the silence, the 73 year old Alvin (Richard Farnsworth), gets news that his brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton) has suffered a stroke and may not live much longer. Alvin lives with his daughter (Sissy Spacek) and needs two canes to walk. His eyes are bad so he can't drive a car, but needs win out and the old guy climbs upon a John Deere lawnmower (one of those riding tractor like things) and putt putts down the road at a rocking 5 mph. Alvin lives in Iowa. Lyle lives in Wisconsin. Along the way Alvin meets many people and refuses offers of a car ride from all of 'em.

That's about it. the Straight Story is all about performances, and Farnsworth is especially good, which has meant an early buzz about an Oscar® nomination.

On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Eight Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to The Straight Story, he would have paid...

$3.00

Rent.

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