Walk The Line

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Walk The Line (2005)

Review

Walk The Line tells the story of country singer Johnny Cash and his relationship with June Carter during the early days of Cash's career. As a young boy he was interested in music but life was hard in Arkansas on the cotton farm where he grew up. When he got a break in the music business he toured with musicians like Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Although married to Vivian he fell for singer June Carter who also travelled from venue to venue.

This is a very entertaining biography with fantastic performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon who play Johnny Cash and June Carter. Joaquin Phoenix is very convincing as the troubled singer who becomes addicted to drugs and drink. This is arguably his best performance to date. Reese Witherspoon is also great and it's her singing/concert performances in the film that has won her approval from audiences. She creates a nostalgic feeling of a bygone era. Much of the film is about their relationship and the fact than June Carter was Cash's inspiration. In this sense Walk The Line is a true romance.

The music is entertaining but one flaw is perhaps the fact that there is more music than story. There are quite a lot of scenes of Cash doing the concert circuit at the start of his career. Perhaps these could have been shorten to allow time for the story to continue after 1970 as this is where the film ends quite abruptly.

Lasting Thought: Believe in yourself...

Bottom Line: Very entertaining film about the singer's life and if nothing appeals to you about the film the acting alone is worth a recommendation.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2006.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS: JOAQUIN PHOENIX: Ladder 49, Signs, The Village. REESE WITHERSPOON: Just Like Heaven, Just Married, Legally Blonde, Legally Blonde 2, Sweet Home Alabama. GINNIFER GOODWIN: Mona Lisa Smile. ROBERT PATRICK: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Ladder 49.

Genre: Biography

Director: James Mangold

Certificate: Walk The Line was rated (12A) by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of 12 years of age or upwards. Persons under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Violence = mild. Drugs = moderate. Sex/Nudity = mild. Language = mild.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: Walk The Line

~ Main Cast ~

Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Roberts, Dan John Miller, Larry Bagby.

RATING