Movie Review: Walk the Line

Stars (Out of 10): 7.5

One Word Summary: The Singing

Movie Details: MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some language, thematic material and depiction of drug dependency Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Roberts, Dan John Miller, Larry Bagby, and Shelby Lynne GENRE(S): Drama  |  Musical   WRITTEN BY: Gill Dennis James Mangold   DIRECTED BY: James Mangold   RELEASE DATE: Theatrical: November 18, 2005  RUNNING TIME: 135 minutes   Relevant Sites: IMDB Official Movie Website Watch The Movie Trailers Shopping: Shop Amazon for items related to this movie. Shop for movie posters at AllPosters

"Walk the Line" Review:

          Walk the Line is the story of the incomparable Johnny Cash. As a child he lost his brother in a freak accident, and the rest of his life was a struggle for his father's approval. He grew up listening to his mother's gospel music, but when he tried out in front of a music producer, it wasn't his gospel that got him a record deal, it was the angst-filled lyrics he wrote in the Air Force during Vietnam. The movie tells the story of his early career: from his struggle with drugs, his marriage and divorce, and his love for his boyhood crush June Carter.

          What is there to say about Walk the Line that hasn't been said about Ray? Not a lot to be perfectly honest; the two movies share many similarities. Aside from obvious similarities (both are biopics of musicians who died shortly before their film was released and both lead actors were surrounded with Oscar buzz before anyone saw the movie), Ray and Walk the Line depict two very similar stories in very similar ways. Like Ray Charles, Johnny Cash's life was defined by an early-childhood tragedy, he was a philanderer, and he was a drug addict. Whereas Ray focuses more on Charles' career, Walk the Line focuses on Cash's love for June Carter. Still, can two movies that are so similar find success in back-to-back years? We'll see, but it doesn't hurt that they're both damn good.

          This movie's story is conventional at its core. It does what so many biopics do; it simplifies the subject's life into his mistakes and his loves, leaving out what made him great in the first place. For what it is, a love story supplemented with music and facts, Walk the Line isn't bad at all. Director James Mangold (Identity and Girl, Interrupted) does an admirable job, and his best decision was surely to include so many musical performances. Although it's well shot and edited, Walk the Line is more fueled by the terrific acting and vocal performances of its stars than by anything else.

          Joaquin Phoenix one-ups Jamie Foxx by not only playing Johnny Cash but also singing the film's soundtrack (and quite terrifically I might add). The role doesn't give him quite as much room to showcase his talent as Ray gave Foxx, but over the course of the film's 135 minutes, Phoenix seems to truly become Johnny Cash.

Walk the Line's real scene-stealer, however, is Reese Witherspoon. She's by no means a new face in Hollywood, but Walk the Line is really one of the first serious movies on her resume. On screen she's as effervescent as ever but with a certain darkness we haven't seen from her before. Witherspoon, more than any other actress in Hollywood besides Julia Roberts, can play just about any character and make her lovable… which might be why she made for a perfect June Carter.

The Bottom Line is that Walk the Line will entertain both the Johnny Cash fans and those completely apathetic to his music alike. True fans might be disappointed that the movie doesn't delve deeper into his persona, but they won't be disappointed by the quantity and quality of Phoenix and Witherspoon's musical performances which are tremendous. I'd be surprised if it's still in the mix for Best Picture when Oscar season comes around, but either way it's a movie worth seeing.