Starring: Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon
Director: James Mangold
Rated: M
WALK the Line is a biopic that has impressed American viewers and should travel well beyond the United States and to audiences who are not familiar with the music and story of Johnny Cash.
Named after one of Cash’s most memorable songs (I Walk the Line), it uses the framework of 2004’s successful celebrity biopic of Ray Charles, Ray.
It takes a crucial moment in the singer’s life and takes us back to childhood, the beginnings of a career, success and the inevitable dependency and crash.
It ends with the comeback of the singer, taking a second chance in life and career – and, as with Ray, spending more than three decades as a successful and respected entertainer.
The key year for Johnny Cash was 1968 when he made a record of his concert for inmates at California’s Folsom Prison.
After that, and his marriage to June Carter, he really never looked back.
The film-makers have left this part of his life to his concerts, television appearances and his music.
Walk the Line has been written and directed by James Mangold.
Mangold received acclaim in the mid-90s with his small-budget film, Heavy, then with his take on corrupt New Jersey police in Cop Land.
He then guided Angelina Jolie to an Oscar in Girl, Interrupted.
Which makes Mangold completely unpredictable in his choice of projects and skilful in a range of genres.
He also made the romantic Kate and Leopold and the horror thriller, Identity.
Mangold obviously likes Cash and offers us a warm portrait, despite his failings.
Joaquin Phoenix may not be the image of Johnny Cash but he brings him alive in a sympathetic performance, warts and all.
Phoenix also sings all of Cash’s songs and plays the guitar in the Cash manner, quite an accomplishment.
We know that Reese Witherspoon can be sassy in her Legally Blonde comedies, but here she brings a strength of character and responsibility to her charm and buoyancy as June Carter. Witherspoon also sings all the songs herself.
The film has a long running time which tends to undermine something of the impact of the drama and the music.
However, in all other aspects, this is an exemplary celebrity biography.
