Every David Lynch Film RANKED From Worst To Best
8. The Straight Story
The last company you would imagining producing a Lynch film would be Disney, but that is exactly who backed this gentle, touching tale of one man's journey to reconnect with his brother with only a lawnmower for transport.
With an unforgettable and Oscar-nominated turn from Richard Farnsworth, who undertook the role of Alvin Straight despite suffering from terminal prostrate cancer which had spread to his bones, the film manages to be a true oddity in Lynch's filmography by virtue of not being surreal or nightmarish. Indeed, The Straight Story is just that; a straightforward, simple, yet undeniably affecting drama that carries you effortlessly from beginning to end.
The film was nominated for the Palme D'Or and was universally acclaimed, with a number of outlets somewhat surprised by Lynch's uncharacteristic turn. Legendary critic Roger Ebert, no fan of Lynch at the best of times, gave the film four out of four, praising the realistic, Hemingway-esque dialogue, and the film's beauty. The main reason why The Straight Story appears so low on this list is simply because of how atypical it is for Lynch; suffice to say, the best Lynch film isn't the least Lynchian he has made. However, that doesn't detract from this excellent drama.