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Walk the Line

Walk the Line
MPAA Rating
PG-13
Theatrical Release Date
Nov 17, 2005
Genre(s)
  • Biography
  • Addiction & Alcoholism
  • Romance
  • Drama
Rating (Stars)
0 Star 1 Star 2 Star 3 Star Half Star
Description
A solid and entertaining biopic, Walk the Line works less as a movie than an actors' showcase for its stars. Joaquin Phoenix's total immersion into the skin of singer Johnny Cash is startling--watching it, you can't believe this is the same guy who whined about being "vexed" in Gladiator. As he evolves from a farm boy to gospel croonin' plunker to the Man in Black, Phoenix disappears into Cash's deep baritone, his way of slinging the guitar onto his back, and his hunched-up style of strumming. But it's more than just picking up mannerisms: Phoenix also sings as Johnny Cash, and it's quite impressive./ The story of how Johnny Cash became Johnny Cash traces from his childhood under a distant father (Robert Patrick) to his early attempts at a music career, during which he married his girlfriend Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin). During a tour with the likes of Elvis (Tyler Hilton) and Jerry Lee Lewis (Waylon Malloy Payne), he encounters singer June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), and his love for her--and her rejection of him through the years--spurs him into drugs, drinking, and depression. As with most movies based on real-life singers, as his popularity grows, the women come a-flockin', and the childhood demons surface. Witherspoon, who matches Phoenix drawl for drawl, plays June both as a sassy spitfire whose charm breaks your heart, and as a sympathetic friend who tries to help Cash get over--well, her. The love story is what endures, but the movie comes most alive during its musical numbers, and even if you're not a country fan, it may just get you to run out and buy a Johnny Cash album.--Ellen A. Kim/
Director
James Mangold
Stars
  • Joaquin Phoenix
  • Reese Witherspoon
  • Ginnifer Goodwin
  • Robert Patrick
  • Dallas Roberts
Running Time
135 minutes
Original Price
$29.99
Current Value
$4.88
DVD Features
  • AC-3
  • Closed-captioned
  • Color
  • Dolby
  • DTS Surround Sound
  • Dubbed
  • DVD-Video
  • Subtitled
  • Widescreen
  • NTSC
  • 2.35:1