Dec. 04, 2002 - 3:24 pm

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The Straight Story (1999)

and i've moved on to number 113 today on the IMDb's top 250 list. this is a David Lynch film, but it really doesn't feel like it. of course it is produced by Walt Disney Pictures, so how freaky could he really make the film anyway? basically it's not freaky at all. it's just your average Hollywood melodrama that many critics seemed to enjoy.

this is supposed to be based on a true story of a 73 year old man in Iowa who decided to take his lawnmower to Wisconsin in order to see his estranged brother who had recently had a stroke. his eyes are bad, his hips are bad, and he doesn't have a driver's license or a car, so he decides to take his lawnmower and make the trip on his own.

a decent film i'd say. it really does get you emotional at parts because of the great performance by Richard Farnsworth. he seems to do nothing but good for people everywhere he goes, just by talking to them. i guess this would be one of those movies that they refer to as a "feel good movie." that's interesting to see that Richard Farnsworth was nominated for Best Actor for this film in 2000. i'm sure if i was watching the ceremony that year i was like "what??? who is that guy and what is that movie about? i mean come on." ah, if you don't make it a point to see all the films and actors that get nominated for awards, you really don't know what you're talking about when you dismiss one of them. i guess it's hard not to do that though. my suggestion would be to force yourself from now on to see all of the movies that have performances in them that "matter," and then you won't be so baffled when your pick doesn't win. that's my plan anyway.