Walk the Line
Walk the Line – 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
One of the hazards of seeing most movies on video is that when a good movie comes along, it has a lot to live up to. Everyone I know saw this movie before me and raved about how good it is. I really like Johnny Cash because of his music and his attitude. Reese Witherspoon does a great job in the movie, but ultimately the show is stolen by a very impressive performance by Joaquin Phoenix. In the movie, he sings his own vocals (as did Witherspoon) and does an amazing job of sounding a lot like Johnny Cash.
The movie gives a high level view of Cash's life from early childhood up to the recording of At Folsom Prison, covering his tumultuous relationships with his first wife, his second wife-to-be, his father, alcohol, and drugs. There are a number of great moments in the film. The scene where Cash first plays his song Folsom Prison Blues for a record producer sent shivers down my spine.
Ultimately the movie gets a "very good" rating, rather than great, from me for a few reasons. One is that it was too hyped for me by the people I know that saw it before me. The other reason is that Cash lived far too rich of a life for a movie to do it justice. And lastly I find the scar from Phoenix's microform cleft distracting, especially when he's playing a real figure that has no such scar. Call me shallow. Phoenix still does a great acting job and deserves any and all awards he may get.
Despite my idiotic reasons for not giving this movie a higher rating, I do highly recommend it. It is a very enjoyable movie to watch. And you've got to love the soundtrack.
Leave a Reply