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Aug
24
2005

Walk the Line

Posted by Todd Brown at 8:38am.

Posted in Film & DVD Reviews .

cash.jpg

Sweet ... I’m really looking forward to the Johnny Cash bio-pic Walk the Line and one of our regular readers just sent in a detailed review of the film from an advanced test screening. Big thanks to Gummo for this ...

Folsom Prison. As stark and forbidding as any state penitentiary. A cutting silence gives an eerie feel of emptiness. However, there is an event in this prison, and the silence is broken as we can hear the sound of a cranked up band playing somewhere inside. The thumping double bass and noise of a excitable crowd resonating through the desolate prison corridors and empty cells. As we approach the source of this wonderful sound, a credit tells us this is based on both of Johnny Cash’s autobiographies Man In Black, and Cash. This inspired and adrenaline charged intro perfectly setting the scene in James Mangold’s movie.

Walk the line charts Cash from his childhood in the cotton fields of Arkansas (young J.R cash is played by Ridge Canipe), to the culmination of his infamous and iconic performance at Folsom Prison in 1968. Including along the way his signing to the infamous Sun records label in the mid 50’s, shared by labelmates Jerry Lee Lewis (Waylon Payne) , Elvis (Tyler Hilton) and Carl Perkins (Johnny Holiday), to his meeting and falling in love with musician, singer and comedian June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). His instant stardom resulting in a long term struggle with amphetamines.

Phoenix provides an endearing performance as Johnny Cash, nailing the mannerisms, charm and of course, that voice. Cash’s descent into addiction is handled with care, without ever desending into melodrama. The mental and physical fragility, and often intemperate behaviour of the man never over played. He is supported well by Witherspoon’s warm hearted June Carter, ever tenacious during Cash’s addiction. His pernicious behaviour threatening his career, friends, family and his own life.

Of course where the movie really hits hard is the music. It was no suprise to see this produced by legendary producer T.Bone Burnett (who also produced O Brother, Where Art Thou?). The scenes on stage roar with vital energy, not least the Folsom Prison scenes, the quintessential Johnny Cash performance. The bass thumps, the crowd roars and it’s the Man In Black, tearing it up. The youthful exuberance, and raw singing talent of Phoenix and Witherspoon, perfectly blend in a natural chemistry. As Phoenix croons “I killed a man in Reno… Just to watch him die” It’s hard not to let a huge grin spread from ear to ear.

As can be expected, in condensing Cash’s story, some plot strands feel slightly rushed, and various supporting characters fall by the wayside. Ginnifer Goodwin struggles to convince as cash’s constricting wife, and Robert Patrick and (musician) Shelby Lyne as his parents, though adequate, are not given the time to become fully formed characters. However, the appearances of fellow Sun artists Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis add some welcome comic relief moments, and a warmth of nostaligia to proceedings. A blink an you’ll miss him moment with Waylon Jennings (played by his son Shooter Jennings) also gives a warm nod to those familiar with the scene.

Walk the Line is a vibrant look at one of the most important song writers of our times, capturing the essence and youthful energy of the man and musician in his prime of his career. Succeeding as both a heart warming drama and an authentic character study, this should prove a pleasure to both Johnny Cash fans, and those less familiar, alike.

Review by Gummo.

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Reader Comments

  1. Kurt 08/24/2005 @ 9:48am

    Wow, I’m stoked! I’ll be getting a ticket for this one in Toronto!

  2. Blah 08/24/2005 @ 6:43pm

    I don’t know anything about Cash or his music, but this sounds really interesting.

  3. Kurt 08/24/2005 @ 6:46pm

    Blah. You are missing out on one of the great american musical artists...."Apolyptic and Ominous is the best way to describe much of Cash’s music...If the OLD TESTAMENT had a country music soundtrack it would definately be Johnny Cash.

    Recently his “WHEN THE MAN COMES AROUND” was used to great effect in the remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD...that opening credits sequence with that song was easily the best part of that film.

  4. Todd 08/24/2005 @ 7:08pm

    No, no, no ... it the Old Testament had a soundtrack it would be 16 Horsepower. Challenge me at your peril.

  5. Kurt 08/24/2005 @ 8:13pm

    Pistols at Dawn then!

  6. Lasse Hallstrom 08/24/2005 @ 9:27pm

    I realize there are kids reading this, so I’ll go easy on junior…

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash

    ...Read up on him at Wikipedia, and if yer interested… buy his immortal music on iTunes (65 albums to choose from). Sorry, but “16 Horsepower” don’t even BEGIN to come close to a career like that, son.

  7. Todd 08/24/2005 @ 9:35pm

    I’m well familiar with Cash, thanks. Comment has nothing to do with quantity or quality of music and everything to do with tone. There is (was, now, actually since they’ve split up) nobody on this planet that does fire and brimstone better than 16 Horsepower. Particularly live.

  8. Todd 08/24/2005 @ 9:42pm

    And, frankly, I hardly think that anybody posting from somewhere in the Pacific Northwest (probably Seattle) and posing as a Swedish director (one who happens to be in New York shooting a film at the moment) gets to refer to anybody as ‘junior’.

  9. Kurt 08/24/2005 @ 10:51pm

    Todd, are you kidding...That was Lasse Hallstrom, and he is not likin’ your taste in music...Son.

  10. Gummo 08/25/2005 @ 4:19am

    WOW - Don’t wanna detract from Cash, but happy to see a fellow 16 Horsepower fan Todd!!!!

    I’ve seen 16 Horsepower live 3 times, i’m a HUGE fan. I guess if you listen to them, you know David Eugene Edwards intensely pious side project Woven Hand. Excellent stuff. The 2 disc 16HP DVD is well worth picking up too if you havent got it already!!

    Back to Cash though. What did you guys think of his later stuff with Rick Ruben, on the American label? Personally, I think its outstanding.

  11. Gummo 08/25/2005 @ 5:02am

    And as for Cash’s cover of ‘Hurt’. It is without doubt the most powerful, heartfelt music video I have ever seen.

  12. Todd 08/25/2005 @ 5:40am

    Yeah, I know Woven Hand. Really excellent stuff ... I’ve ordered the DVD twice and it hasn’t ever made it here. Some mailman somewhere is enjoying my DVDs ...

    I like the Rubin produced Cash records ... the stripped back sound really suits hims ...

  13. Kurt 08/25/2005 @ 5:24pm

    And as for Cash’s cover of ‘Hurt’. It is without doubt the most powerful, heartfelt music video I have ever seen.

    Couldn’t agree more...I have it on my computer, and am compelled to watch it at least once a month…

    It’s like he was writing his own Obiturary just before he died....PERFECT, HAUNTING, POIGNANT....great stuff...I like that 4-Disc Set on AMERICAN.

  14. muffieo1 09/11/2005 @ 3:02pm

    I heard Ginnifer Goodwin did a great job as Vivian. (the first wife)

    Newsweek calls her performance “powerful” and she is being cited as a contender for best supporting actress for the Cash movie. Are you sure you saw it?

  15. tens and nickels 09/14/2005 @ 1:34am

    I saw it. Yeah Goodwin was amazing. The whole cast was phenomenal, I anticipate it will do very well in the box office. Can’t wait to see it again.

  16. Dave 09/14/2005 @ 9:00am

    I saw it last night at the Toronto International Film Festival.

    You can read my review here:

    http://davemadethis.blogspot.com/2005/09/tiff-walk-line-review.html

    Let me know what you think please!

    Cheers

  17. JRP 09/15/2005 @ 5:02pm

    I love Johnny’s songs, especilly “RING OF FIRE.”

    He is my favorite country singer of all time!

    And look who’s playing Johnny Cash,Joaquin Phoenix. HE looks just like him except for his birth mark. Joaquin is a great actor,I mean I’ve never heard him sing but I think he’ll do pretty good.This movie is going to rock!

  18. Alicia 09/19/2005 @ 9:25am

    I am really looking forward to seeing this movie. I really think that it is going to be amazing. Joaquin and Reese are going to do an amazing job, I can’t believe they learned to sing and play instruments for their roles. I am also really excited to see Tyler Hilton play Elvis Presley in this movie. I think he is going to do a great job. He is an amazing musician and actor and I think that will really show in this movie.

    Alicia

  19. Alicia 09/19/2005 @ 9:33am

    I can tell that this is going to be an amazing movie. With Joaquin and Reese singing their own music and playing their own instruments, the movie is going to seem really authentic. I can’t wait to see Tyler Hilton playing Elvis Presley in this movie. Tyler is an amazing musician and actor and I know it is going to show in this movie.

  20. Renee 09/19/2005 @ 3:16pm

    This looks like it’s going to be a great film! I am looking forward to Reese playing a brunette, since she did magnificant in Legally Blonde 1 & 2! I am also really looking forward to seeing Tyler Hilton play Elvis Presley. I’m a huge fan, and this is his first movie role, so I’m so excited!

  21. David Gibons 09/19/2005 @ 4:07pm

    Johnny Holiday a great blues artists I heard played live guitar in this movie is that true?

  22. JRP 09/24/2005 @ 2:52pm

    Like I said before,this movie is going to rock!Did you guys know that all of Johnny Cash’s songs that he ever sang, are for sale for $50.It seems that Gummo and I are the only one’s that wrote about Cash, not really caring who plays the people in “Walk The Line”, as long as they look a lot like the person and have the same kind of voice.Oh,Yeah.Blah,where the hell have you been?

  23. lifty 10/20/2005 @ 7:13pm

    I cant wait until this hits norwegian movie theatres,Cash is the greatest american that has ever lived..He is looking down on us from heaven with june carter,roy orbison and luther perkins and smiling…

    Keep it Cash,then keep it good

    Lifty

  24. arthur sampson 10/28/2005 @ 7:14pm

    i was wondering if the soundtrack is actually johnny cash singing or phonix’s voice.will some of you email me and let me know if you know for sure. thanks, arthur [removed]
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  25. Chris 11/19/2005 @ 4:28pm

    The soundtrack is the actors singing NOT Johnny.

    http://www.walkthelinemusic.com/music.html

  26. choo 03/15/2006 @ 2:29am

    just saw the movie “walk the line “this afternoon. Reese is great but Phoenix is greater. can’t believe that he sang the songs in the movie himself until i read the comments u guys posted. have heard songs by Cash but did not know he was that good. i do hope hollywood would do something like this abt Elvis too.

    pity they have only one oscar for best actor.otherwise it would be fantastic to have best actor and actress inside ‘the ring of fire’ this year.
    -----

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