Rebel Outlaw Visionary Singer Legend.

Rating: Null/10 (18 July 2008)

Walk the line follows the same path as Ray does in telling the story of a larger then life icon. And in this case the story is the almost mythic story of Johnny Cash who approved of James mangold's script and he even spent time with Phoenix talking to him. Phoenix was Cash's first and only choice as to who would play him in the movie. Wise choice. The Wisest choice was June Carter's when she chose Reese Witherspoon to portray her. Both icons chose not to try and influence them when it came to the singing Johnny Cash told Phoenix relax find your own way it'll sound more better more real that way. And it does sound more real. Mangold pulls no punches here he delivers Johnny Cash warts and all as he struggles with the loss of an older brother loniness in the air force and finally a addiction to booze and pills that almost kills him. But for all of that WALK THE LINE is just a simple love story of Cash's love for June carter and the battles they had to fight before they could be together. And WALK THE LINE could also be called a love letter by James Mangold to the late Johhny Cash and the late June Carter Cash. The movie is the Johnny Cash Story and it details his life with unflinchingly honesty much like Johnny Cash did in real life. This movie is a classic that deserves to be viewed again and again.