Phoenix walks the line
Scott Waldyn
Issue date: 12/14/05 Section: Entertainment
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Directed by: James Mangold
Written by: Gill Dennis and James Mangold based on "The Man In Black" by Johnny Cash and "Cash: An Autobiography" by Johnny Cash and Patrick Carr
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Robert Patrick
Running Time: 136 minutes
Throughout his lifetime, Johnny Cash was an amazing artist who extended his music outside the lines of the Country genre. Although the country music industry did very little to recognize the talent and touch of his songs, something was fated to come along.
This homage came in the form of a film entitled "Walk the Line." In this movie, we (the viewers) see a very determined Joaquin Phoenix pull off a fairly decent impersonation of Mr. Johnny Ray Cash himself!
Before watching this film, I had always seen Joaquin Phoenix as an average actor with no special quality to him. Sure, he was in a few films I enjoyed, but beyond that, his name didn't interest me.
In "Walk the Line," Joaquin Phoenix proves that he can be an exceptional actor, something few have the opportunity to attempt. Yet, he isn't alone. Reese Witherspoon also proved to me that she can be much more than a ditzy blonde in a chick flick. In fact, some argue that Witherspoon was the heart and soul of the movie.
I am sure many agree that this was a pivotal moment that helped boost the careers of Witherspoon and Phoenix. It also does help to note that they did their own singing as well.
Moving onward, as many would have deduced, "Walk the Line" follows part of Mr. Cash's life, ranging from his childhood up until when he created a live album (one of his most famous) inside of Folsom Prison.
The story is rather formulaic, following the typical plot of the musical biopic genre in which the film's titular subject goes from tragedy, to drugs, and ultimately to redemption. People viewing this film will probably remember similar points within last year's "Ray." However, I have to admit that I personally found "Walk the Line" much more interesting to watch than "Ray."