Walk the Line..........Don't miss it!

Rating: 10/10 (21 November 2005)

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Shelby Lynne, Dallas Roberts "Walk the Line" is the story of music legend Johnny Cash (1932-2003) and is courtship of country singer June Carter (1929-2003). The story is one of love, hardship, and tragedy which follows Cash's story from his hard upbringing in rural Arkansas, to his rise to country music stardom. Along the way, he falls in love, witnesses his own family life disintegrate, and struggle with dug dependency. Among the Cash songs heard in this movie are "Ring of Fire", "Walk the Line", and "Folsom Prison Blues".
The film opens, Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) is awaiting to take the stage for a live recording in Folsom Prison. From there, he flashes back to his younger days as a child in rural Arkansas. While he is encouraged to sing gospel by his mother Carrie (Shelby Lynne), his father Ray (Robert Patrick) is not so forth-coming. He is a tough parent whose harsh treatment gets tougher after the death of Johnny's older brother in a saw mill accident. All of this will continue to affect Johnny throughout his life.
After a stint in the US Air Force, Johnny settles in Nashville, TN with his high school sweetheart Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin) and plan to start a family. While he doesn't thrive as a door-to-door salesman, he does get a new found ambition to be a musician. He assembles a couple of friends together and audition at Sun Records. While their first attempt to cut a gospel record does not bode well with Sun Records founder Sam Phillips(Dallas Roberts), Cash does win him over with originals he wrote while in the Air Force. Soon, Cash is touring with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. At one of these shows is where he meets June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). The attraction between the two is evident, but there are other factors why they can't act on it. Carter comes from a devout Southern baptist family who also have prominence in country music, Cash is a married man who loves to party hard. Carter is already considered flawed in the eyes of Southern Christians because she has already been divorced and the thought of pursuing a married man conflicts her throughout the movie.
It is this love story that drives much of the film. Carter and Cash often tour together, making their attraction even more intense. Both do eventually act on their attraction, though it does carry it's consequences. Johnny, now completely dependent on alcohol and prescription drugs, has his family life hit rock bottom and Vivian divorces him. June now becomes aware of Johnny's addiction and while she could've easily walked away, her love for Johnny compels her to get him straightened out. With her love and support, Johnny has a new lease on life and makes the most of it. The film ends with Johnny and June ready to exchange vows. They would never leave each other's side until June's death in May of 2003. Johnny would follow her 4 months later.
The best acting in this film came from it's two headliners, Phoenix and Witherspoon. I had my doubts originally with Phoenix. He did his own singing in this film which almost gave me reason not to see this film. But as the film progresses, Phoenix falls right into the role of Johnny Cash and I will expect an Oscar nomination for both Phoenix and Witherspoon. You don't even have to be a fan of country music to love and understand this very human story. Definitely do not miss this one.
(A little Johnny Cash trivia for ya- Cash is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Songwriter's Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)