Not much to do with how his life really was, but very entertaining film

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2006)

I gave this 10 stars because the film is well done and highly entertaining, although upon reading a biography about Johnny Cash, I discovered the film is not very true to it.
The film leads one to believe that Johnny Cash had no particular ambitions to be a performer when he first married Vivian. The facts are, he was not only writing his own songs by age twelve, but while in high school he performed on a radio station and he continued doing this after meeting and marrying Vivian.
I don't know if Johnny ever tried to sell things door to door, but he did work in Detroit for awhile. He also attended college, something you'd never guess from watching "Walk the Line." He also went to New York in real life and completely left Vivian and his children behind when he did so. Again - not reflected in the film.
Why Hollywood can't just tell the story the way it was really lived I've never understood. The man's real life was a highly interesting story and did not need to be fictionalized.
There are, of course, some accuracies in the film. I do believe he and June Carter were each other's greatest loves.
There is also lots of fine music in the film, which I greatly enjoyed. Both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon do absolutely bang-up jobs in their portrayals of Johnny and June.
I was particularly impressed with Joaquin Phoenix, he is a very handsome man and gives off a sexual intensity that is almost palpable. I found him completely riveting.
So don't go into this film expecting to see Johnny and June's real life stories, but if you just want to be entertained this film surely does that.