MovieChat Forums > The Straight Story (1999) Discussion > I GOT IT!

I GOT IT!

posted 20 years ago by ZiggyFloydZeppelin
7 replies | jump to latest

I watched this film for the second time, the first time I did I didnt understand it, I didnt understand all the fuss and I especially didnt understand why Lynch (wich was one of my three favourite directors then and still is) would do this film. But now when I watched it for the second time, about three years later I realised everything I didnt realise before about this film! This movie is a MASTERPIECE! One of the greatest films I have ever seen! It's dramatic and moving but in the same time kind of a parody about of getting old, losing your youth and slowly crossing towards the end. Its also about brother love and it describes brotherhood better than any other film I know of. This film is beautiful and poetic, it has many little meaningful stories that will make your hair rise and your eyes wet. This film is a beautiful, important experience that no one should ever ever judge by first or second review, watch it until you completly get it and love it, I know I did...

[–] jessfarrtexas 20 years ago

yep
I just watched it again last night and was moved to tears. Lynch proves that he is one of the best directors alive. His handling of the film is nothing short of genius. masterful. poetic. human.
this is one of the finest films I have ever seen.
hopefully Lynch can go back into this vein sometimes soon. Mullholand Drive was fun to watch, but c'mon. If you have a director this capable, its a waste of time to make mainstream studio films like Lost Highway.
Angelo Badalementi turns in another classic score.
I must have more from them.

[–] TyGB 20 years ago

While I agree that The Straight Story is terrific (and I personally think it's better than Lost Highway), calling Lost Highway mainstream is absurd. And Mulholland Dr. is more than just "fun to watch", IMO, and is Lynch's grand opus.

"And then here you are....and it's a beautiful day." - Marge Gunderson

[–] Angstrom 20 years ago

Yeah, I laughed out loud sitting here in my chair when you said that Lost Highway was mainstream and that The Straight Story isn't. The Straight Story has got to be Lynch's most mainstream film (next to the Elephant Man, which is closer in narrative structure to a mainstream movie).

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tohu 7 years ago

I just watched it again last night and was moved to tears. Lynch proves that he is one of the best directors alive. His handling of the film is nothing short of genius. masterful. poetic. human.

I couldn't agree more. To give just one example, I would suggest the bar scene, where Alvin talks to the old soldier about their WW2 experiences. When Alvin is telling his horrible story, a lot of directors would have cut to a flashback. That would have been the obvious thing to do: we'd have seen the young Alvin, crouching in the dark with his gun, as we hear the older one telling the story. This would have been OK....ish. I suppose. But no, Mr Lynch knew that the best way to do it was to just focus the camera on Alvin. Old Alvin. This is the difference between good directors, who understand how to use good actors - and the rest.

_____________

"Maybe I should go alone"
- Quint, Jaws.

[–] kgu22 16 years ago

Yes there is some great stuff that people here just seemed to miss.

My favorite is at the end when he is standing facing his brother. Him with his cane and his brother with his "able" walker....Cain and Abel......just awesome.

[–] KongKongAGAIN 15 years ago

In my opinion, "The Straight Story" is a pretty good movie, but it's not exactly a "masterpiece," either; it's like a slightly superior version of "The Long Way Home." It is, however, far above "Mulholland Drive," which I find to be one of David Lynch's most over-rated, most insufferable films.

Also, really, someone considers "Lost Highway" to be a "mainstream studio film"? First, what's wrong with one of those, and, second, "Lost Highway" most certainly isn't one.