socalledlife

I knew very little about Johnny Cash and pretty much nothing about June Carter Cash before seeing "Walk The Line." I was aware June had died recently, and that Johnny died soon after of a broken heart (but not before releasing an excruciatingly beautiful version of NIN's "Hurt," along with an equally waterworks-inducing music video). As a music and movie addict and a sucker for a great love story, these tiny nuggets of information provided enough incentive for me to shell out the $9 ticket fee.

With that said, this movie gave me goosebumps like very few movies ever have. From the pounding bass line permeating Folsom Prison at the beginning of the film to the closing shot acknowledging Johnny and June's recent deaths, director James Mangold takes the audience on an emotional roller coaster, albeit one you never want to end. Aside from two or three slow points, the movie flows well and remains engaging throughout its entirety.

Let's move on to the acting, shall we? I'm not exaggerating when I say that Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon both light the screen on fire. Phoenix almost always gives great performances, but Witherspoon's transformation from cute girl-next-door to Jaw-Droppingly Talented Dramatic Actress is a revelation on the level of Elisabeth Shue in "Leaving Las Vegas" (minus the whole hooker thing). And despite (probably false) reports that the two actors supposedly didn't have the friendliest off-camera relationship, you would never know it from watching them on screen together. Their chemistry is off the charts. Watching Phoenix and Witherspoon sing to each other in front of thousands of people, it's crystal clear how Johnny and June's love story inspired someone to make a movie about it.

The music is pretty amazing as well. Phoenix doesn't sound exactly like Johnny by any means, but he sounds similar enough to believably and respectfully inhabit Cash. Witherspoon herself is great, with a sweet voice just this side of twangy, which manages not to turn off audience members like myself who generally don't listen to country.

I really can't say enough positive things about this film. You should be standing in line right now waiting to buy tickets. Or call Fandango, whatever. Just go. Now.

Why had I never heard of this movie until I saw it sitting on the video store shelf? I hadn't seen Elisabeth Shue in anything really good lately, and I hadn't seen Joseph Fiennes in anything since Shakespeare In Love, so I didn't have high hopes for this movie. But I'd have to say it's one of the best I've seen in a long time.

This is one of those movies in which different story lines converge into one towards the end of the film. Fiennes is a recently released convict, having served 15 years for murder. Shue portrays a lonely wife and, later, a seemingly heartless mother. While both actors are great in this movie, Shue in particular is shocking (in a good way). Shue is unfailingly likable, whether playing a babysitter or a hooker, so seeing her as Mommy Dearest is both unsettling and refreshing. Having been in the industry for nearly 2 decades when this movie was released, it's exciting to see the (still gorgeous) actress making yet another Leaving Las Vegas-style breakthrough.

I don't want to give away any important plot points, so suffice it to say that this movie left me with the same disturbed, depressed, yet greatly moved feeling that I get from movies like American Beauty. Don't let the fact that most people have never heard of it keep you from picking it up during your next trip to the video store.