The Straight Story, dir. David Lynch

Wiz HIGHLY RECOMMENDS The Straight Story The Straight Story might be the weirdest film David Lynch has ever done. And it's mainly because of what it isn't: weird. I can go on about Lynch's chilling, puzzling masterpiece Mulholland Drive, but I can also spend just as much time gushing over the simplicity and warmth of The Straight Story. The film sounds odd, but not Lynchian odd: Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) is an old man who finds out his brother had a bad stroke and decides he will drive from Iowa to Wisconsin to be by his side because they haven't talked since they had a falling out. However, since he can't drive a car due to his age and his poor eyesight, he decides to take the drive on his lawn mower. This leads into probably one of the quietest, yet sweetest road trip movies ever: a film that is more concerned about the characters Alvin comes across than him actually making the destination. The film has this right amount of tenderness, sweetness and roughness that makes it feel heartfelt but not saccharine. Reading on paper what this film is, you could believe it is a corny, faith-based kind of film that goes way too hard on messages and the "power of the human spirit". But the film has a distinct authenticity that reminds me of, strangely enough, the Coen Brothers' Fargo: it highlights the different behaviors and feelings of the area, from the beautiful golden brown fields to the dialects of the people who populate the film. It also doesn't treat these characters as caricatures or people to be laughed or gawked at: these are just plain folk who live good lives and happen to pass by old Alvin on his trek. This is all tied together incredibly well by an endearing, roughneck performance by Richard Farnsworth. All aspects of the character feel fully realized with no oddities: it is fully believable when he's upset, angry, happy or whatever emotion while still being his stoic and graveled self. I guess this shouldn't be a surprise that David Lynch would do a film about this odd of a character, but it's still a pleasant surprise that the only dread I felt watching the film was the realization that Alvin may not make it after all. Lynch's The Straight Story is a film that doesn't get discussed much...if at all...when it comes to his work and there's an obvious reason why. But it honestly should: it's a deeply heartfelt, quiet and sweet film that will put a smile on your face and a tear shed from your eye. It's beautifully endearing and if you are a fan of Lynch, it should be your next watch if you haven't experienced it yet.