Film Review: Walk the Line

Director: James Mangold

A 2005 biographical drama about the life of Jonny Cash, it mainly focuses on the early life and rise to fame of the country music artist. It largely ignores the latter 20 years of Cash's life and other controversies that plagued his life but to condense somebodies life into a film that doesn't last 5 hours it was certainly necessary.   Reese Witherspoon deservedly won The Academy Award for Best Actress in 2005 for her impressive portrayal of Cash's second wife June Carter who also performed on tour with him.

Jonny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix)

The film quickly moves from on from the abuse Cash suffered at a young age following on from the death of his brother Jack, a burden he carries throughout his life. We see Cash move from gospel music which he has little love for to his own music and the development of his hit song Folsom Prison Blues to becoming a major hit with the fans before suffering from problems with alcohol and drugs.

Phoenix is impressive in the lead, taking on a role of someone like Cash is always going to be difficult as people will make comparisons the man in real life. The singing by Phoenix has clearly had a lot of work put into it and for me is a decent impersonation of the man himself, for this he should be applauded. Unfortunately for Phoenix his performance is rather over-shadowed by Reese Witherspoon who is simply incredibly as June Carter from her demeanor right down to her accent means she is a joy to watch in what is easily her best performance to date.

June Carter (Reese Witherspoon)

The film focuses on the early days of Cash's life rather than the whole biopic, it does miss his later life and the strife he had with his children. It would have been better to move away from the topic of love and loss which is so standard in Hollywood these days and presented a broader picture about his life especially the social and political reasons behind his nickname of being the ''man in black''. But these are but small quibbles against a film that impresses in its angst amongst the genius that is Johnny Cash.

3/4 Good biopic with great acting throughout