Walk the Line

For some of you who have seen Walk The Line, you may still be humming Johnny Cash tunes in your mind. I confess I had listened very few times to Johnny Cash but as of now I have about 15 of his tunes in my Ipod. Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon playing respectively Johnny Cash and June Carter, Walk the Line was truly a fascinating performance. I frankly can’t think of anyone else playing June Carter than Reese Witherspoon. All you have to do is listen to June Carter and realize that what Witherspoon did was remarkable. She was able to capture the accent, style, and essence of Johnny Cash’s partner. Joaquin Phoenix has the difficult task of imitating the inimitable. Johnny Cash is one of a kind. Joaquin Phoenix did his best and to me since you can never sound exactly like Cash, he was the closest there will ever be. Phoenix is one of the best that Hollywood offers today. Who can forget his cruel portrayal of Commodus in Gladiator and the dying Fireman in Ladder 49? Phoenix who received permission from Johnny Cash himself to play his role learned to play the guitar, took voice lessons, spent numerous hours mimicking Johnny Cash. This guy is passionate about what he does.
The movie itself gives an aura of dark addictions and redemption. It doesn’t minimize the consequences of Cash’s sins and it doesn’t minimize his difficult childhood. From the famous gospel tunes to Walk the Line, Johnny Cash’s life seems to follow the life of so many well-known artists. Drugs, Sex and Country Music. This is the story of Johnny Cash. The man who married his sweetheart and earned innumerable praises from the media. In the end, Cash redeems himself from his addictions and actually is resurrected. A perfect fit role for an actor whose last name Phoenix means “Resurrection.” This movie gets an eight.