The Straight Story

This is the David Lynch I admire and respect. A recital by the incredibly likeable Richard Farnsworth, whose character is etched deeply, deeply into my heart and memory. This is one of the most beautiful, moving, and best made films I've ever seen (and not just among road movies). Visually and musically captivating. (21/01/2014)

Excellent. Like Lynch’s films, it relies on feelings, you have to live the events together with the protagonist. There are sad moments and happy moments, but most of the time it’s pleasantly sentimental. Another thing worth pointing out is the music score, which improves wonderfully what would otherwise be long and boring scenes, making them a lot more than just bearable. One reliable indicator of how much I’ve enjoyed a given film is how willing I am to let the final credits roll, and here I happily watched the whole lot of it… (15/04/2009)

Not only the most beautiful road-movie I have ever seen, but also a moving film about the autumn of life that inevitably awaits each of us and about brotherly love, for which even failing health and an uncomfortable journey on a tractor over great distances is no obstacle. Even very ordinary things can be extraordinarily beautiful when presented in such a sensitive way. David Lynch is a very wise man... (02/03/2008)

It's not often that a director like David Lynch can move an audience to tears (except for Elephant Man, of course). The Straight Story is such a sensitively and, above all, civilly told story with beautiful music that not one of my eyes remained dry. An excellent Richard Farnsworth in his final role. (20/05/2009)

Quite atypical Lynch, at least in terms of surface touch... A captivating story about a stubborn grandfather who one fine day grabs a tractor and takes a long ride through the world to reconcile with his brother. The typical road movie form in Lynch's hands is not boring at all, the sequence of poetic and funny stories has enormous inner strength, and the cheerful wisdom of an old and gnarled man, played brilliantly by Richard Farnsworth. But there are also traditional "Lynch" hallmarks (the deer scene) in the film. Pleasant, smooth, poetic. A beautiful film. (27/07/2004)