Walk The Line Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Walk the Line

This biopic of Johnny Cash (Phoenix) wisely decides not to try and tell the whole story of his life but instead focuses on 13 years between his first hit and his legendary performance in Folsom prison. More important than his career though is Cash's relationship with June Carter (Witherspoon) who eventually became his wife. The music biopic is a popular form and it's easy to see why. The lives of musicians are often packed with incident and more than a little scandal and, of course, there's a built in brilliant soundtrack. Walk the Line is among the best musical biopics. Finding people to play musicians is often difficult; do you go for someone who looks a lot like the person they are playing or do you find somebody to really do the performance and the music justice? Thankfully director James Mangold has taken the second approach. As Cash Joaquin Phoenix isn't an especially great physical fit but his performance is one of such conviction that you never doubt it. As soon as Cash starts performing the other remarkable facet of Phoenix's performance becomes clear. He plays and sings every note himself and you'd never know that, vocally at least, that he's not miming to the real Cash. Where it tells is in the energy of the music, liberally peppered through the film, particularly the first half as you can see a group of people enjoying the the experience of playing music and feel the connection between the actor and the vocals. Offstage too Phoenix is great turning in an impressively layered performance which doesn't gloss over the many flaws in Cash's character. If anything Reese Witherspoon is even better as June Carter. I've long been a fan of Reese Witherspoon as far back as Man in the Moon, Freeway and Election she was turning in performances that belied her tender years (she's still not yet 30) but that actress, so willing to take risks, seemed to have vanished in the last five years as Witherspoon went from one shonky rom com to another. It's an utter joy to see her on such storming form as she is here. Like Phoenix all the music June performs in the film comes from Witherspoon and her voice (while I can't attest to how like Carter it sounds) is clear, pretty and a pleasure to listen to. In the stage sequences she's got a bouncy energy that makes the already catchy songs even more infectious. However it's in the quieter moments that she most impresses. An early scene where she has coffee with Phoenix is a notable highlight but best is her ability to turn, utterly convincingly, on a dime from June's private to her public face. There's real chemistry between the leads and because of that you believe the romance, you understand when Cash tears a sink off the wall in frustration when Carter rejects him and you root for the romance. If there are criticsms to be made then it can be said that the supporting cast (an excellent Ginnfer Goodwin as Cash's first wife aside) do get a little lost in the mix, despite fine performances, simply because the focus is so strongly on Cash and Carter and Phoenix and Witherspoon are so very good. It also sags just a little in the middle when Cash's drug addiction, rather than his music, is chronicled but Mangold resists the temptation to become preachy or to dwell too long on this section of the story, knowing that the music and the relationship are the engines powering his film. A fine film it is too, one which deserves to win both the acting Oscars it is nominated for and to take pride of place in any film fans biopic collection.

All forumla, no soul

The exciting and unpredictable life of the young Jonny Cash is rendered here into a dull and formulaic bio-pic as only Hollywood can make them.

The acting, much praised at he time of the film’s release, is solid, but the cast, like the audience, are never challenged by this material. Almost every scene is predictable and although a few (such as the audition scene) manage to generate some emotional charge, the characters are never much more than caricatures, and the flow of the story proceeds exactly as it has in almost every other average music bio-pic before it. With such pedestrian screenplay and direction to contend with, it is little wonder that the best efforts of the cast come to so little.

The music, of course, is great – but that’s pretty much a given. Beyond that, the film has little to offer either those wanting to see a good movie or those wanting to learn about Johnny Cash. Better to listen to “Live at San Quentin” – the complete release, with all the tracks and Johnny’s between-song banter, will entertain and educate anyone far better than this middle-of-the road plodder of a film that is the very antithesis of everything that Johnny’s life and music represent to so many of his fans.

It is a great shame that this film has been so successful, for it serves to confirm the continued bank-ability of these turgid movies. But perhaps the greater shame is that, for many people, this shallow and emotionless film might be all they ever experience of this wild and mercurial artist.

Walk The Line - You won't Regret it.

Walk the Line is a movie about American legend singer/songwriter's career at its peak and at its lows and his relationship with June Carter. But it's not all about Johnny Cash, it's about American society and musics influence at the time. At the core of this movie is a genuine love of Johnny Cash's music and a feeling of respect for him, so if you like Johnny Cash then this is the film for you. I didn't know much about Johnny Cash at all before i saw it and i had heard relatively little of Cash but that's no longer the case. Whether you like Johnny Cash or not this movie has all the elements any movie should have, humour, a strong narrative and a beautiful mise en scene of 50's - 70's America. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon seem as though they were born to play those roles, Reese's voice is beautiful and Joaquin, who sounds remarkably like Cash, sounds like he's having a good time playing those songs. A film that will have you singing along, crying and laughing. It's the kind of film you could watch over and over again...addictive!

What a movie!

Before I went to see this movie, I was not expecting much due to hype. However, I was so wrong. Five minutes into it, I was hooked!

The characters are so beautifully played and the story is so engrossing, I didn't want it to end. Joaquin Phoenix makes an excellent Johnny Cash, even getting his distinctive voice down to a t and Reese Witherspoon excels as June Carter and the chemistry between the two works perfectly. Perhaps the only fault is Tyler Hilton's unconvincing portrayal of Elvis, but that really is nitpicking. The film is honest yet thoroughly entertaining, romantic without being too sappy, very moving and ultimately suprisingly uplifting. This really is a stunning piece of cinema. If only all biopics were this good!

Most authentic biopic so far....

Having been a staunch Johnny Cash fan since the late 50's I must admit that I was less than enthralled to hear Hollywood was making a movie about him. My initial reaction was, who on earth could ever portray him convincingly, also I thought it too soon after the death of JC to even contemplate such a project.Then when I heard they would not be dubbing JC's voice onto the soundtrack, but that Joaquin Phoenix would do his own vocals as would Reece Witherspoon, I thought yeah right- this has got to be a wind-up.

Well, after seeing the movie I am happy to admit that my initial concerns were unfounded in every respect. Phoenix handed in a very excellent portrayal of Cash and the vocals were good, though not quite matching the deep timbre of the man-in-black's bass baritone. He did however manage to capture every quirk and mannerism of Johnny's twitchy stage persona excellently. He even learned to play guitar for this role, no easy chore for a novice.

And as for Reece Witherspoon as June Carter, well to be honest ,it was difficult to tell her from the real deal, she was so absolutely superb in the role. Both stars had obviously done their research and home work on their subject matter, and their attention to detail was reflected in an excellent film performance that provides a tasteful and accurate tribute to Johnny and June. Even John's surviving brother, Tommy Cash, himself an accomplished country singer in his own right, gave the movie 9/10. His only reservation being that it depicted their father, Ray Cash, as being mean spirited, which according to Tommy not the case in real life. The film really does this American legend proud.

Toe the line

This film is about the life story of the singer Johnny Cash. This, for me , was one of the best films I have seen about a singers life. It had everything, drama, a great cast, great acting and truly kept me watching until the end. I don't give many films 5 stars, but this deserved it for the acting alone. If you are interested in Country music, or Johnny Cash, rent this one.

Cash Fan Now!

Walk The Line is one of those films that stays with you long after you leave the cinema.

The best film I have seen in a long long time, left the audience in utter silence in places which means it is moving them! You can't help watching with a lump in your throat and a tear in the eye, feeling for the man who stepped over the line in many ways yet had the soundest of hearts . I was astounded at how the actor Joaquin Phoenix made me believe I was watching the real Cash and impressed by his dedication to the part by learning to play the guitar from scratch and sing all the songs himself.

Reese Witherspoon a justified Oscar winner for her part. Great Film.. Go watch it!...

Another tortured genius biopic

'Walk the line' follows the early career of ,the recently departed, Johnny Cash. Although im not overly familiar with JC, Joaquin Phoenix seems to have been born to play this character and really puts his heart and soul into the performance.

Reese-legally blonde-Witherspoon really impressed me and, considering I usualy hate her performances, plays the love interest part with great character. One thing I wasnt expecting was how much I enjoyed the music and even found myself downloading JC tracks after the movie.

If you enjoyed the likes of 'A Beautiful Mind & The Doors' then you'll love this.

If ever an Oscar was earned but not received

How typical that Joaquin Pheonix plays the best role he has to date, and plays it with passion worthy of the Oscar, only to come up against Philip Seymour Hoffman being even better!

Absolutely awesome biopic. Every role is played brilliantly, Reece Witherspoon deserved her oscar. I really don't have more to say but all the 5 star reviews are absolutely justified.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one of the best films i have had the pleasure to watch, it is that good i applauded at the end. If you want to see a good film, no sorry fantastic film then i urge you to watch this. Its well worthy of winning more oscars than it did, not just Ms Witherspoon, but Mr Pheonix really deserved it for best actor. Seriously though if you only watch this then i guarantee you will like it.