Walk The Line
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Patrick, Ginnifer Goodwin, Shelby Lynne, Hailey Anne Nelson
Directed by: James Mangold

Released in the US: November 18, 2005
Released in the UK: February 2006

Reviewed by: Adam Mast, ZBoneman.com

Walk the Line is an effective bio pic on the late musician Johnny Cash, and while it is certainly structured like Taylor Hackford’s Ray from last year, it remains an insightful take on a truly gifted artist. Fueling the film are two outstanding leads – Joaquin Phoenix, who magically conjures up the spirit of Johnny Cash, and Reese Witherspoon who livens up the proceedings with her sassy portrayal of June Carter.

Walk the Line traces many years in the life of the legendary Cash, but focuses mostly on his bout with drug addiction and his loving relationship with friend (and eventual partner) June Carter. And, of course, we’re treated to several musical numbers along the way. It’s been reported that Phoenix wasn’t really familiar with Cash before taking on the role. Sure, he had heard some of his songs, but he wasn’t particularly well versed in the singer’s back catalog or life for that matter. After watching his performance here, you’d think that Phoenix studied Cash for years.

This is a mesmerizing turn, and deserves to rank right up there with other such classic musician portrayals (i.e. Gary Busey in The Buddy Holly Story, Val Kilmer in The Doors, and Jamie Foxx in Ray). While many are quick to paint Walk the Line a mere carbon copy of Ray, Phoenix one ups Jamie Foxx by doing all his own singing. Ironically, Foxx has an outstanding voice himself, but Ray’s film makers opted to let the actor lip sync. Phoenix perfectly captures that deep, aching growl made famous by Cash, and he also captures the performer’s swagger as well as his pain. This is Phoenix’s strongest work to date. As great as he is, Reese Witherspoon emerges as the big surprise in this picture. I knew going in that Phoenix was going to nail it, but I wasn’t too sure about Witherspoon. Thankfully, the young actress proved me wrong with what is easily the strongest performance of her career. As the sassy June Carter, Reese Witherspoon is both lively and vulnerable. She also serves as the voice of reason in Cash’s often chaotic life. Of course it is the two together that really spark the movie. There is real chemistry there and both actors are to be commended for their passionate work.

Walk the Line was written and directed by James Mangold, a film maker I quite like. I was a huge fan of Copland and even have a soft spot for Identity. With this film, Mangold examines many of the same themes Taylor Hackford examined with Ray. We get glimpses into Cash’s tragic past (including the haunting death of a brother that his father blamed him for. We also follow the legendary musician through his intense bout with drug addiction. We also get a little taste of the turbulent relationship between he and his first wife Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin). The screenplay does get a tad melodramatic when dealing with these plot points, but what really carries this picture (aside from the stellar, virtuoso performances) is the Johnny/June storyline and, of course, the music. What Ray really lacked was a fully developed love story. Yes, it did spend time showcasing Ray Charles’ relationship with his wife, but it lacked the depth of the union on display in Walk the Line. The bond between June Carter and Johnny really is the focal point here, and by the end of the movie, it’s perfectly clear that these two really helped each other through some tough times.

The pivotal moment in which Cash proposes to June is one of my favorite scenes in the film, because the fashion in which he does it is so poignant. When you see it, you’ll know what I mean. What’s more, their entire courtship is handled with real finesse. Due, in large part to Carter’s Christian upbringing and reputation. Johnny and June don’t jump in the sack in the first reel. And in fact, there is quite a bit of resistance in the early goings on, because both individuals have so much going on in their private lives. The way Mangold develops their bond, is extremely believable, and Phoenix and Witherspoon really sell it.

As for the music, there is plenty of it and Mangold has the good sense to let many of the concert sequences play out rather than cutting them short. Phoenix and Witherspoon are so good in their respective roles, that Mangold elected to let them play out, and allows them to shine to their fullest.

Also worth notiing are the entertaining scenes in which we see Cash consorting with a number of other legendary song men including Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.

Musical historians will be quick to point out that there are several events noticabley absent, but that is quite often the case with bio pics. When dealing with a subject so big, it’s nearly impossible to include every little detail. It sure would have been interesting to see more of the time frame when The Johnny Cash show was on the air, in which the increasingly popular Cash did duets with the likes of Merle Haggard (whom he met in prison), James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Louis Armstrong, and Ray Charles. How cool would it have been to get a Jamie Foxx cameo?

As it stands though, Mangold’s film is more interested in showing the rough road Cash had to travel to achieve greatness, and while the film is crammed with quite a bit of plot, it’s handled in sure handed fashion. But make no mistakes, the film’s strongest attributes are Phoenix and Witherspoon, two talents who Walk this line with nary a misstep.

Grade: B