A must-see biopic for music fans

Rating: 8/10 (26 December 2007)

I expect that one of the hardest roles for an actor today must be to play a recently deceased legend. There's little room for error since that person's image is still embedded in the public's consciousness.
In "Walk the Line", Joaquin Phoenix does an admirable job of portraying the incomparable 'Man in Black', Johnny Cash. The film-makers apparently realized that imitation of mannerisms alone would be insufficient so they went with an actor who exudes the same kind of seething intensity. Reese Witherspoon's performance is assured as well and, thankfully, brings her talents to a picture that's actually worth seeing. The supporting cast is mostly unspectacular, though Robert Patrick is memorable as Cash's father.
The direction is solid and produces some memorable images but the focus is clearly on the narrative, which is fine with me. The enjoyment gleaned from the music will be dictated by taste; personally, I thought that it was good but no substitute for the real thing.
So, check out this movie if you're a Cash fan, a music fan or just looking for a good biopic.