The second semester of my freshman year, my hero and idol, Johnny Cash, died, following his wife into legend as a great musician and outlaw.
In the years before he died, there was talk of doing a movie about his life. Cash personally read over the script, chose the wardrobes and even cast a young celebrity he had seen fight Romans to play him. Initially, skepticism flowed through me as I saw Joaquin Phoenix play my hero in the biographical film “Walk The Line.”
The entire cast and production made a beyond phenomenal work of dedication and tribute to the “Man in Black.” Director James Mangold (“Copland,” “Identity,” “Girl Interrupted”) recommended that Phoenix learn to play every Cash song that made him famous. Phoenix learned to play the guitar from scratch, leaving one with an eerie feeling when hearing his non-dubbed rendition of “Ring of Fire.”
From his days at the now-famous Folsom Prison where he wrote, performed and recorded the most influential and true country songs known to man, the legacy of the famous outlaw singer is laid down.
As the lyrics the movie is named after suggest (“because you’re mine, I walk the line”) this film does, in fact, portray one of the most volatile and honest loves ever: that of Cash and the lovely June Carter, played by Reese Witherspoon.
The viewer should not confuse this tale of staggering love with any Nicholas Sparks novel. The timeline of Carter and Cash’s relationship in this movie is beyond moving.
The storyline describes Cash, showing his progress from a poor farm in the middle of Arkansas, where he lost his brother, to building his own brand of music that enthralled the world. It goes on to show him wasting away on booze and amphetamines.
The path to Carter was soiled with rugged, tragic experiences. After depicting Cash’s failed marriages and his recordings alongside some of the great Nashville legends, the film narrows its focus to the love Cash ultimately always had for Carter. The story of true love is honest and believable.
The film is also dotted with its share of much-needed comic relief. Several legends of the world of music appear, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and even Waylon Jennings, played by his musician son, Shooter. The all-night benders on the road and the numerous tours with stars allows one a window into the world of the rising music legend.
Carter’s path to her destiny with Cash was not without its inevitable peril, either. She was married when they first met and was touring with the great Jerry Lee Lewis. Cash’s less-than-subtle advances climax in a mixture of love and regret one night onstage.
The question of an Academy Award for either Phoenix or Witherspoon’s performances should be unspoken, though at times it’s debatable whether Witherspoon’s accent is a tad overzealous. Nevertheless, she does a phenomenal job as Carter.
“Walk The Line” is a beautifully made film and one of the best mainstream studio productions handed down this year. From the sound quality to the well-crafted cinematography and standout performances, this film rarely misses and is an unbelievable tribute to Johnny Cash, starting with those four words we’ll never hear from him again: “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”
