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Walk the Line stars Joaquin
Phoenix, brother of the late River
Phoenix, as Johnny Cash, and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter.
Walk the Line shows us the beginning of Johnny Cash's career where he
ran around with Elvis
Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings, and Carl Perkins. We
also see a brief glimpse of his early childhood and the tragic
circumstances that would lead to strife between him and his father
for years to come.
In his early days, Johnny Cash
was more of a rock star than country super star. Hanging out with his
fellow early rockers finds Cash popping pills and drinking himself
nearly into oblivion. His first marriage begins to crumble, which cements his
perceived destiny of marrying June Carter, whom he seems to have been in love
with perhaps since childhood. June Carter, having been
on the radio since her childhood, relates more to Cash and his new
found fame, while Cash's first wife seems intent upon having a man with a 9
to 5 job. Of course, everyone knows Cash and Carter eventually marry,
but in getting there they have to run through Cash's drug addiction and
near self destruction.
This movie is like a remarkable
journey back into time when rock was young. I wasn't that impressed
with the Elvis look alike, but the cars, scenery, music, and attitudes
were right out of the 1950's and 60's. The music is the best reason to
watch this movie. Forgive me for saying this Johnny Cash fans,
but Joaquin Phoenix, who did his own vocals, sounds almost like an
improved version of Cash. At first he sounds a little rough during the
practice scenes, but once the music gets added to his vocals his
performance simply rocks! He's not just trying to imitate Cash. If he
doesn't have a music contract yet, somebody better sign him up. Reese
Witherspoon was amazing as well. I highly recommend that you buy
the soundtrack.
Robert Patrick does a good job as
Johnny Cash's father, Ray Cash. In a strange casting coincidence,
Patrick who is most famous for playing a Terminator
on T2, and the replacement agent for David
Duchovny, Special Agent John Doggett on the X-files,
also was cast as Elvis Presley's father, Vernon Presley, on the 2005
"Elvis" TV movie.
Buy Walk the Line on DVD
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