The Straight Story ***
rated G Walt Disney Pictures 111 minutes starring Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Jane Heitz, Everett McGill, Jennifer Edwards, Barbara E. Robertson, John Farley, John Lordan, Harry Dean Stanton written by John Roach and Mary Sweeney directed by David Lynch
An older man once told me that once you get old, time seems to go by much faster. You wouldn't think it from watching Richard Farnsworth's character in `The Straight Story', but in one of the film's smaller scenes, I realized something. His character, Alvin Straight, has been driving on a lawnmower at a painfully slow pace over about 500 miles. He asks a man for the date, and he realizes it's been five weeks since he began his journey. That inconsequential scene proves that life can move at a slow pace while time speeds ahead. Sad, isn't it?
Sad is one way to describe this new film from David Lynch; odd is another. Compared to the films Lynch has done, there is little which could seem odd. Except for a G-rated Walt Disney Picture, perhaps. Like David Mamet did with `The Winslow Boy', Lynch (who made `Blue Velvet', `The Elephant Man' and `Twin Peaks') has ditched his unusual, edgy style for something more refined but no less compelling.
But in `The Straight Story', Lynch takes a backseat to 79 year old actor Richard Farnsworth. Farnsworth, who has appeared in films like `Misery' and `The Grey Fox', takes control of the film in a subtle way that only the most gifted and experienced actors can perfect. He has already garnered quite a bit of Oscar buzz.
Alvin Straight is in his seventies, and he yearns to be young again. He lives in Laurens, Iowa with his stuttering daughter, Rose (Sissy Spacek), and isn't in such great shape. The World War II vet ignores health advice from his doctor, and has a diet composed entirely of red meat.
One day, he learns that Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton), his estranged brother, has just suffered a stroke. He realizes that neither of them have much time to live, and that they mst reconcile before they pass on. He announces that he will be going to visit Lyle in Wisconsin. Sounds reasonable enough...except for the fact that he has decided to travel the 500 miles on his lawnmower.
Much to the delight of onlookers, Alvin begins his trek and meets a handful of quirky characters along the way (among them; a lady who has killed 15 deer on one highway). Despite the G rating, `The Straight Story' is a Lynch movie at every turn. The irony is, depsite the quirkiness of these Lynchian characters, this film does more justice to small town folk than any film this year.
`The Straight Story' is about a man who knows his time is almost up, and about his final journey of freedom. `The worst part about being old,' he says, `is thinking back to when you're young.' Alvin Straight is trying to purify his soul.
While the film is pleasant and compelling enough, it's glacial pace is often annoying. Some conversations seem to last a lifetime, and the thin premise isn't enough to fill a 2 hour picture. However, there are some great shots of America's heartland, and it's a nice slice of life that's suitable for the whole family. Kids may be able to sit through it, but `The Straight Story' is adult in its themes.
This isn't one of David Lynch's better films, but it has its own simple pleasures. Personally, I'm not a fan of edgy directors making G rated films, no matter what kind of violence is occuring in today's society. If this is the way Lynch wants to make films, that's fine, but I don't want filmmakers to feel pressured by the ratings board to make films family-friendly. I'm such a fan of Lynch's old stuff that I don't fell compelled to call `The Straight Story' a refreshing change, but it is an intriguing piece of work.
Richard Farnsworth is `The Straight Story', and deserves recognition for his three dimensional work on Alvin Straight. Farnsworth presents a character who sits back and chooses to watch everything from freighters to bicycles speed by him. But he doesn't care. Life moves slow, but time goes fast.
a review by Akiva Gottlieb akiva@excite.com http://cinemania.8m.com
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