Walk the Line (18 November 2005)
directed by James Mangold
starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dan John Miller, Ridge Canipe
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MPAA rating: Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures, Tree Line Films, 20th Century Fox, Konrad Pictures, Catfish Productions Script: Gill Dennis, James Mangold Based on the book by: Johnny Cash Music: T-Bone Burnett Running time: 136 minutes Suggested retail price: $$29.99 (US) Tags: Biography; Drama; drugs; Family Crisis; music; romance; singing Tactical strength: [7/10]
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for some language, thematic material, and depiction of drug dependency
Walk the Line presents a portrait of singer Johnny Cash's rise to fame, his fall created by drug and alcohol use, and his subsequent redemption through his marriage to singer June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). We all know Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) as an icon in the music industry, and his on stage persona of the harden ex-convict concealed the real man. Walk the Line fills in some of Johnny's background and tries to explain through family history and back-stage scenes the events that led Johnny to have unwavering determination and the need to create the on-stage, tough-guy image. We see young Johnny deeply affected by the death of his older brother, and his father subsequently blaming Johnny for the boy's death. We see Johnny's constant need to tour, to have a connection with his audience, but the constant touring takes a physical toll that Johnny tries to make up with drugs and alcohol. We see his mistreatment of his wife and family. All these build a portrait of a man determined to succeed and at the same time often getting in his own way of feeling like a success.
Walk the Line does perpetuate pop culture morals. If you use drugs you'll have a downfall, but when you clean up everything gets better. The film also promotes the meme that hard work reaps the desired rewards -- although in Cash's case, he does seem to need a few lucky breaks in addition to the hard work. I don't mind these messages as a whole, but often these messages get simplified by the movie. For example, how often can you lose everything and then remake your millions just by getting off drugs.
I have to say, hats off to the casting director who discovered these hidden depths and talents in Joaquin Phoenix, who so completely takes on the persona of Johnny Cash that you might think Cash's spirit had returned and possessed Phoenix's body. Who would ever have guessed that the whimpering Caesar from Gladiator or the lackluster firefighter from Ladder 49 could sing, let alone sing with the deep resonance of Johnny Cash? And again, who would have thought that Reese Witherspoon, the airhead from Legally Blonde, could take on the persona and voice of June Carter, for which Witherspoon won the 2006 Best Actress Oscar. Robert Patrick also gives an excellent performance as Cash's hard-edged father. I would recommend seeing Walk the Line just for these performances, but you get a whole lot more than just good singing.
