Walk the Line

Rating: 8/10 (28 March 2007)

This is the true story of the great county and western singer/legend Johnny Cash (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar and BAFTA nominated Joaquin Phoenix), from director James Mangold (Cop Land; Girl, Interrupted). Growing up in the Depression era and after joining the air force, he bought his first guitar and wrote his own music, and proposed to Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin). Soon enough he auditions to a record guy with his boys/band, and after singing one of his original songs, gets a record deal and tour to promote his songs. While touring, promoting his song, along with such artists as Elvis Presley (Tyler Hilton) and Jerry Lee Lewis (Waylon Malloy Payne), he falls for already famous singer June Carter (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning Reese Witherspoon). After a long tour though, June leaves because of Johnny's behaviour as a drug addict, and his marriage falls apart. He does convince June to tour again, promising to support her, and it has a happy ending when (after many proposals) she finally accepts marriage. Also starring Terminator 2's Robert Patrick as Ray Cash, Dallas Roberts as Sam Phillips, Dan John Miller as Luther Perkins, Larry Bagby as Marshall Grant, Shelby Lynne as Carrie Cash, Shooter Jennings as Waylon Jennings and Johnathan Rice as Roy Orbison. Witherspooon certainly deserved her Oscar win, I reminded of the huge chin spoof in Bo! in the USA sometimes (lol), and Phoenix is very convincing (voice in particular). It is a great story with a great singer impression, the songs, including the brief Ring of Fire, and of course the title song are the highlights. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Costume Design, Best Editing and Best Sound Mixing, it won the BAFTA for Best Sound, and it was nominated for the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for T-Bone Burnett, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Very good!