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Amazon.co.uk Review
Charting the life stories of both legendary musician Johnny Cash and singer June Carter, Walk The Line has proven to be among the most popular music biopics of all time. And with good reason.
Spearheaded by two superb performances (which we’ll come to shortly), the film’s main focus is on Cash himself, from his childhood, early successes, eventual troubles through to the legendary concert of Folsom Prison. His journey also takes in drug problems, the tragedy that haunted him and bumpy relationships with the women in his life. Throughout, of course, there’s Cash’s enviable body of musical work, which not only helps provide markers for his story, but makes for an excellent soundtrack to the movie as a whole.
As a film, Walk The Line is resolutely formulaic, with a structure that’ll be familiar to anyone who regularly watches biopics of this ilk. What really helps this one stand tall though are Joaquin Pheonix and Reese Witherspoon. Pheonix is utterly compelling in the lead role, while Witherspoon is back on the form she displayed back in the days of Election.
James Mangold’s direction is fine and uncluttered, and while his film clearly chooses which elements of Cash’s life to focus on (there’s certainly far more to know than you get in the two and a quarter hours here), it works extremely well as an entry point into the life story of a great musician. Even the casual viewer will get a lot from Walk The Line, and it may even compel them to expand their CD collection off the back of it,--Simon Brew
Synopsis
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
59 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon give memorable performances in this story of Johnny Cash and his long-time love, June Carter. Johnny grew up poor on a cotton farm, listening to June Carter and her family sing on the radio. He married a girl from home and started singing, but his wife was jealous of Johnny's career and his time away from home. He met June and was smitten, but they were both married; they continued to tour together for years, through June's second marriage and Johnny's terrible drug abuse. June helped him kick his habit and later, Johnny proposed to her onstage.
I really enjoyed the songs in the movie a lot; I was especially impressed that Phoenix and Witherspoon did their own singing and playing and made it look so easy. Phoenix's Johnny is a tortured and self-destructive soul, and Witherspoon's June is spunky and smart. They have great romantic chemistry on-screen and their close-ups are intense! The supporting cast is uniformly excellent, especially Robert Patrick as Johnny's mean and unrepentant father. "Walk the Line" is an entertaining bio pic with infectious music and two very likeable stars.
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is different. Not in a bad way, in a very refreshing and thoroughly excellent way. Joaquin Phoenix is a convincing Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon is phenomenal. The film draws you in and is deeply compelling. I would recommend this film to anyone over the age of about 15. You don't have to be a Johnny Cash fan to enjoy it.
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I grew up listening to Johnny Cash music played over and over again by my Dad and I really thought I didn't like it at all! I went to see this movie purely because the movie I intended to see wasn't showing. I went with my 11 year old daughter who had never even heard of Johnny Cash.
We went back again after the first showing. It is a 'love story' but a very real and gritty story.
Joaquin Pheonix is more than believeable playing the complicated man in black, and his renditions of Cash's songs are astounding.
Watching Reese Witherspoon in action as June Carter is a treat, and it's easy to see why she earned her Oscar.
Watch out for a passionate performance by Robert Patrick as Johnny's hard liner father.
Altogether a must see film!
We went back again after the first showing. It is a 'love story' but a very real and gritty story.
Joaquin Pheonix is more than believeable playing the complicated man in black, and his renditions of Cash's songs are astounding.
Watching Reese Witherspoon in action as June Carter is a treat, and it's easy to see why she earned her Oscar.
Watch out for a passionate performance by Robert Patrick as Johnny's hard liner father.
Altogether a must see film!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Johnny Cash
I have always been a fan of Johnny Cash and this film brings him back to life. The singing of the stars in the film
sounds very much like Johnny.
sounds very much like Johnny.
Published 1 month ago by mowers
good movie
good movie, good video and audio. a lot of extras too. fast shipping and excellent condition.
if you have interest in biopics, I highly recommend this one...
if you have interest in biopics, I highly recommend this one...
Published 3 months ago by Juan Castillo
Excellent
Truly captures the fame and struggles of johnny cash as we know him. This movie will be a timeless classic.
Published 6 months ago by AscendedMike
OK
Having read the film reviews for this film I was expecting something wonderful. I was disappointed when I came to view the DVD.
Published 8 months ago by morganwilliam
Walk the Line
I have never purchased from Amazon before as I have recently moved from South Africa to the UK. The service I received was EXCELLENT. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Barbara
A beautiful film
I completely agree with the reviewer who said that you don't need to be a Johnny Cash fan to watch this film; in fact, I didn't know anything about Johnny Cash when I watched it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Aljoscha
Walk the Line (special) DVD Review
This film is very good, especially if you are interested in music or johnny cash in particular. The film is entertaing and gripping and will definetly entertain you or your family... Read more
Published 19 months ago by LaurenceFrench
walk the line dvd
the delivery from amazon was excellent as usual and the walk the line dvd was probably the best biopic dvd I have ever seen. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. M. Grimes
A Pleasant Surprise
This film had the potential for disaster: tackling the life of someone as legendary as Johnny Cash was never going to be an easy challenge. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Kate L McCormack
One of My Best Loved Films!
This film will make you laugh and cry and you will find yourself wanting to watch it over and over again...just like the Mr Cash and his songs would.
Published 21 months ago by the_manchurian
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