The Straight Story' has humorous characters
By Tom Harshbarger
Daily Forty-Niner
"The Straight Story," the latest offering
from Walt Disney Pictures, is the true story of a man who drove across
Iowa into Wisconsin on a riding lawnmower.
Directed by David Lynch ("Twin Peaks,"
"The Elephant Man"), the film is a humorous and touching look at the adventures
of Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), a 73-year-old World War II veteran.
Upon hearing that his brother, Lyle, has had a stroke, Alvin, who is fiercely
independent but can't see well enough to hold a driver's license, builds
a trailer to hold his supplies and hooks it up to his 1966 John Deere.
The movie's humor comes from its characters.
A majority of the people that Straight interacts with could best be described
as hicks -- they're not very bright and say some really silly things. One
might not want to laugh at the Midwestern stereotypes but it can't be helped.
As Straight travels along on his journey,
which takes more than six weeks, he meets different people along the way.
He imparts his wisdom to folks such as a pregnant teenager running away
from home (Anastasia Webb) and a pair of feuding fraternal twin brothers
(Kevin and John Farley).
For those familiar with Lynch's previous
directorial projects, this movie has his handprints all over it. The pace
of the movie, like the pace of Straight's lawnmower, is painfully slow.
The impatient may not be able to handle this film.
Another device Lynch uses, particularly
during conversations, is the pregnant pause. The pauses seem to be designed
to make the audience as uncomfortable as the characters.
Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek plays Straight's
mentally challenged daughter Rose, who looks after Straight throughout
the movie. Rose had her children taken away from her after an accident,
a scenario that gives Lynch the opportunity to add some eerie symbolism
to the fray.
"The Straight Story" is G-rated entertainment
for adults. Children probably wouldn't get it. The ending is abrupt when
Straight arrives at his brother's house, which may leave many scratching
their heads. |
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