Alright... I kept forgetting about this film. You see, back during Cannes we had some reports on this film, the press seemed to love the movie... And for a while it sounded like Lynch was gonna run off with the awards for the festival. But... ya know... them's the breaks. However, now let's take a brief look at this film that, from all accounts is something remarkable (though a bit familiar sounding to an Ernest Borgnine film I saw at SXSW called ABLIENE) Well... Here ya go...
Hi Harry-
I wrote the other day about David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Well I'm writing again to tell you about David Lynch's The Straight Story. I went to a press screening of the movie this morning at Disney. I have to say straight out that is a totaly masterpiece. I think it is by far the best movie I have seen this year. I can't rave enough about it. It is a beautiful meditation on love, forgiveness, age, kindness and America.
The story is punctuated with some of the most amazinly stunningly beautiful helicopter footage of the midwest ever. Some of the shots in the film are like Edward Hopper paintings. The movie was shot by 80 year old cinematographer Freddy Frances who shot Lynch's Elephand Man. The plot is the story of Alvin Staright who hasn't spoken to his brother in 20 years. He learns that his brother has suffered a stroke and takes off to see him on his tractor-lawn mower. It takes him six weeks to get to Wisconson from his town in western Iowa. He meets some great people on his way and has some strange and beutiful experences. I was so moved by the film that it made my cry several times.
This movie is going to be nominated for several Oscars. Richard Farnswoth will win best actor, I predict and David has a greast shot at best director. This sound like a huge departure fom David Lynch but his haunting style is not at all compromised by the story in any way. If anything he seem liberated by it. By the way the film is rated G. This may turn a lot of people off, but once they film starts they will be trasfixed by it. This is such a delicate movie that I hate to hype it so much but it is the first great movie of 99. Watch for an amazing scene with deers. Deers and John Deeres.
SKOT
