The Review I wrote for Journalism Class

Rating: 10/10 (24 February 2006)

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon Directed by: James Mangold There are a few great movies that have come out this year, but none compare to Walk the Line, the bio-pic about the legendary country singer Johnny Cash played by Joaquin Phoenix. The film begins with Cash in Folsom Prison getting ready to record his first live record. It then flashes back to 1943 when Cash was eleven listening to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio. He really enjoyed listening to the radio while his elder brother Jack studied the bible and Hymn songs. Cash's father, Ray Cash played by Robert Patrick, wasn't so fond of him listening to the radio. When Jack dies in a tragic accident Johnny is incredibly crushed. When Johnny enters the air force they make him change his name from JR Cash to John Ray. Johnny returns to USA from Germany and marries Vivian Liberto. They had four daughters between the years of 1954 and 1961. In 1966 they divorced and Johnny fell under the spell of drugs and alcohol. It took over his life. In 1968 he marries June Carter played by Reese Witherspoon. This movie had everything that makes a good movie, believable and unforgettable performances, period realistic costumes, Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon and everyone else did their own singing, the sets were stunning the acting was outstanding. The make-up and music were beautifully done. This movie will make you cry, laugh, and will make you sing. It will also leave you talking about it for weeks. Those very things make a movie great. This movie was incredible and people have been talking Oscar about it since it came out, and it was just nominated for three Oscars for Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. It just won a Golden Globe for best picture, best actor, and best actress in a musical/comedy. No one has ever walked the line like Johnny Cash but the actors in this movie had a lot of talent and chemistry to pull off the love affair between June and Johnny. This movie is by far the greatest and magnificent movie of the year 2005!
~Kenzi Taylor