Walk The Line (DVD)

This most entertaining true-life music biopic quite understandably focuses only on select segments of the life of “The Man in Black” (Johnny Cash; marvellously played here by Joaquin Phoenix), and deals mainly with his earlier career; his drug problem…and of course his ongoing romance with June Carter (Reese Witherspoon).

Yeah, we all know that Ms Witherspoon won a “Best Actress” Oscar for her performance. But Mr Phoenix was also nominated as “Best Actor;” and the film itself won many other awards. To me, the most amazing feature is that both Phoenix and Witherspoon did their own vocals throughout…as Gary Busey had done in The Buddy Holly Story back in 1979. The sound-track is, in fact, as close to faultless as it ever could be. Believe me! I’m both a musician…and a Johnny Cash fanatic!

The imaginative casting includes Robert Patrick – of ”Terminator II” fame – in the role of Ray Cash, Johnny’s father.

A snippet of useless trivia: it was Johnny Cash who – based on a character he’d met while doing his military service in Germany – inspired guitarist Carl Perkins to write his celebrated rock classic, Blue Suede Shoes,. that went a long way towards launching Elvis Presley’s early career.

Primarily the story of the love that grew between country stars Johnny Cash and June Carter during the early years of Cash's career, Walk the Line is the result of intense collaboration between director James Mangold, co-writer Gill Dennis, Johnny Cash, and June Carter Cash.

Though both Cashes died in 2003, they oversaw the script's development for seven years. Mangold and Cash's insistence that the film's stars would actually sing paid off. Witherspoon's singing (as June) is lovely, and Phoenix's contains the raw energy and soul that defined Cash's sound.

Even as a child on a cotton farm in Depression-era Arkansas, Cash shows a strong interest in music, escaping from his no-frills life and strict father (Robert Patrick) through hymns and listening to the radio. When his brother dies in a freak accident, young Johnny feels responsible, and worries that he will never live up to his brother's goodness.

The film follows Cash through his first marriage with Vivian Cash (Ginnifer Goodwin) and into the early stages of his touring career alongside such musicians as Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and most importantly, June Carter. As Cash's success grows, so does his relationship with drugs, alcohol, and Carter, putting a strain upon his family life. From his initial audition with Sam Phillips of Sun Records on through his legendary 1968 concert at Folsom Prison, Cash is transformed from a hesitant singer riddled with demons to a man whose uniquely bold style would make music history.

Walk the Line never attempts to paint a full picture of Cash's prolific career, but instead focuses on the passions that drove his music and on the woman who gave him strength. With magical performances by Witherspoon and Phoenix, a haunting and inspiring American romance is brought beautifully to life.

General

Studio:	20th Century Fox
Country of origin:	South Africa
Release date:	September 2006
Directors:	James Mangold
Dimensions:	192 x 137 x 15mm (L x W x T)
Format:
Running time:	2 hours, 11 minutes
Region encoding:	Region 2. This DVD will play in all South African DVD players.
Age restriction:	10
Categories:	DVD > Drama DVD > Musical DVD > Biography DVD > Feature Film
LSN:	XJ3-0FP-4FH-5
Barcode:	6003805062260

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