Walk The Line

--By Mark Pass Translated by Charlie Shen Photos by 20th Century Fox

(Biography/ Drama/ Music)
Release Date: 2006/02/10
Rating: PG
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Patrick

A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, also depiciting his love story with country singer June Carter. Both were married to others when they first met. Ten years on, June helped Johnny struggle free from drugs and rekindle his career. They broke free from the conservative '60s atmosphere and stuck with each other for the next 40-odd years until June passed away in June, 2003, with Johnny Cash following in her footsteps in September the same year.

Considering the formula junk coming out of Hollywood these days, how good this movie was, was a great surprise. The direction was perfect, using close-ups to get us in under the skin of Johnny Cash. Biopics naturally have a formula to them, but the director and screenwriter do not take us down the track of overly sentimental scenes. These were real and done with a bit of well placed humor, just like real life. After all, you still have to follow the real lives of Johnny and June. You can't make it up.

It's nice to enjoy real dialogue and not just another chase scene, or four-letter word. Yes, some movies need these to tell the story, but this one doesn't. This movie goes onto my short list of great biopics, along with "Ray". Not much else comes close to Ray or Walk the Line. The true test of any biopic is: Can you still understand the plot even if you've never heard of the people the movie is about? This film is a great love story even if you've never heard of Johnny and June Cash. Joaquin Phoenix plays Johnny and Reese Witherspoon plays June; both are amazing, doing their own vocals and playing their own instruments for the film's numbers. The story centers around them, taking a look at Cash's tortured courtship of his favorite performing partner.

Plus, you cannot help but start to become a fan of Cash's music, if you weren't already. In a time when it is getting more and more difficult to find genuine "cool" people in the media spotlight, Joaquin Phoenix does a solid job and ices this role.