Walk the Line
Alright. This is my second time writing this one out. Hopefully I won’t lose this review this time around.
This is the second nomination of mine (but it was actually the first one that I nominated
).
The first thing that I want to say is one of the things that I really like about the film is that I feel like it is more
just a story rather than a biography. One could almost think it was fictional storytelling rather than a telling of someone’s life story. I have to give big credit to the filmmakers for creating a film that gave me that impression because I think that is what helped me to like this film more than I ever expected to.
I may be wrong, but I believe Johnny Cash gave his blessing to have Joaquin Phoenix portray him in this film. So if anyone thinks it wasn’t good casting, then blame Johnny for that one.
As for me, I thought he was an excellent choice for the part. I think Joaquin was perfect in this film. I am an incredibly huge fan of his, anyway. So my opinion on the choice and his performance may be a tad bit biased, but I will still express my opinion no matter what. I think he is one of the most underrated actors around. He is one that reminds me of the old-timers. He has a natural quality about his acting. There are few around today, as far as I am concerned, that are able to take a role and make it seem
real, as if the actor IS the person that they are portraying (and I am including fictional characters, too). But I think Joaquin does that 100% here. I always thought he was robbed of his Oscar, but what can be done about it now?
As for Reese Witherspoon. I don’t think she fit the role of June Carter as well as he fit the role of Johnny Cash. I really don’t like her in here at all. I still don’t get how she won for Best Actress. I really feel that this was one of those cases where the one actor (Joaquin) made the other actor (Reese) look better than they actually were, but it is the actor that only
looked better that was acknowledged for the performance over the one that was actually better.
I liked that they were both able to do their own singing. Her voice was good, but June Carter is better.
But I think Joaquin did a pretty good job. There were times where I thought he sounded enough like Johnny Cash that I think if someone was the casual listener, and didn’t realize what they were listening to, I think that person could easily think that it was Cash who was actually singing.
If there is one thing that this movie confirms in my mind it is the fact that
classic country is so far superior to the modern stuff.
Also, I wasn’t too thrilled with the choice of the actor who played Elvis. I always have a hard time with the actors they cast as Elvis.
Speaking of Elvis, and this film, it just makes me even madder at myself that I didn’t go to Sun Records Studio when I was in Memphis. Memphis was actually, literally, a last minute plan. I knew I had the time and I decided to drive there before I went home. I wanted to see Graceland (one of my absolute favorite places that I have ever seen). When I was there I should’ve gone to Sun Studio. I didn’t, though. And I have always regretted it a bit. Who knows? Maybe I will swing by that city again someday.
Maybe.
Anyway, I think this is an enjoyable film. My only complaint is that I wish we would’ve seen more of the man that everyone loved over the man who was, essentially, an alcoholic. I would’ve liked to have seen more of the guy that was the
real Johnny Cash.