Walk the Line (2006)

Starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon

Walk the Line is a moving, sometimes very sad, and ultimately life-affirming depiction of the life of Johnny R. Cash, starring Joaquin Phoenix. The film shows us the simple pleasures and unexpected tragedies of his boyhood, and picks up where Cash discovers his calling in life, a guitar in his hands and a song waiting to be put down on paper.

He walks into a modest recording studio and demands an audition. The record producer wants him to come back in a month, but Cash can’t wait. His rent’s overdue and he’s facing eviction. The scene with the producer Sam Phillips is wonderful, especially in the simple, direct advice Phillips passes on to Cash about what his singing has to express in order to work. Cash learns the lesson, and begins his trajectory upwards into fame and fortune.

On the music tour he rubs elbows with other up-and-coming performers. It’s a delight to recognize a young Jerry Lee Lewis and a hip-swiveling guy who looks and sounds like he might someday turn into Elvis.

But the center of the film is the relationship that develops between Cash and the veteran singer/comedienne June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). Cash is instinctively drawn to her, but a few little things stand in the way, like his marriage to his childhood sweetheart and their kids, and June’s kids and husband. Plus there’s Cash’s increasing addiction to drugs and booze.
Cash and Carter’s romance is star-crossed, and it’s kind of heartbreaking to see how low Cash sinks before he begins his ascent into life again. It makes you wish that hyper-talented people could somehow avoid the lows and the tough times and the self-destruction, and still manage to amaze and delight us with the highs of their performances.

Joaquim Phoenix is convincing as Cash. it's also impressive that Phoenix sings all the Cash songs in the movie. We’ve heard many of these songs from Cash himself, so our ears are prejudiced. Phoenix hits them so well that the credits have to mention that Phoenix did all the vocals in the movie.

Reese Witherspoon is equally surprising as June Carter, and also sings all of Carter’s songs throughout the picture. Reese displays a huge acting range: she’s got a lot more to show us in the movies than we might have gathered from Legally Blonde.

This movie is toe-tapping and inspiring. I want the soundtrack right now. (This is coming from someone who has never owned a Johnny Cash record or CD in his life.) But that’s going to change. The movie is that good.