Walk the Line
Walk the Line
PG-13 | 18 November 2005 (USA)
Walk the Line Trailers

A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

Reviews
Plantiana

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

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Claysaba

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

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Odelecol

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

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Scarlet

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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SimonJack

"Walk the Line" is a good biopic of the early years in the life of singer, songwriter, musician and actor Johnny Cash. Joaquin Phoenix does a good job playing Cash as he breaks into music. The talented Cash, who became much more known as a quiet, withdrawn man for most of his performing life, had some raucous early years. The film covers his first marriage, road trips while struggling to make a name for himself, and his drug use. This also was the time when he met and befriended June Carter who would later become his wife. The film ends before the major part of his career with Carter - their last 35 years together. Reese Witherspoon gives a superb portrayal of Carter. She won the only Academy Award of five nominations for the film. But the movie took the top three Golden Globe honors for the year - best picture, best actress and best actor. Witherspoon also won the BAFTA award for best actress. Ginnifer Goodwin also gives a superb performance as Cash's first wife, Vivian. While Cash was known mostly as a country musician, he had a versatile portfolio of songs and performances. He played and sang blues, rock and roll, gospel and folk music. He is in three music halls of fame - Country, Gospel, and Rock and Roll. He sold more than 90 million records in his lifetime.As so many other musical biopics, "Walk the Line" covers mostly the years up until the person makes it big. This is one when I would have enjoyed another 20 minutes or so to see performances of some of the top songs that Cash wrote and played. Cash and Carter died within four months of each other in 2003. He was 71 and she was 73.

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katm-37105

To walk the line means either to choose your own way and to devote yourself to it completely, forgetting about everything, or to lose it and lose yourself at the same time. The problem of choice iis the main idea of this film, the choice between the dream of one's life or family. The film isn't really dynamic, but it shows the main character, Johny Cash and his story, as a real person, not idolizing him, because he is first of all an interesting personality. In his childhood he couldn't devote himself to music, but as he grew up and the story follows, we get to know that there're only 2 important things in life for him - music and June Carter, who was performing with him, and with whom he fell in love unrequitedly. So the film is about love as well, as Johny was really happy only with June. The story was actually written by James Keach (a friend of Johny Cash and his family). It took 4 years to make him agree to sell the author's rights, to shoot the film took also 4 years. The actors who play the main characters were chosen by Johny Cash and June Carter themselves (Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon) an not without a reason, because these actors are very talented ones, and not only actors but singers as well. All musical pieces in the film were sung by them without any help of professional singers; Joaquin Phoenix learned to play the guitar during the shooting. This film can be an excellent example of a biographical film, and I highly recommend it to all music lovers, fans of Johny Cash or to all people who like the brilliant actor's play and interesting plots.

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nastena_ovchinnikova

Throughout the film, I saw, I heard and I felt this amazing madness of music. I really saw it and felt it, because the scenery was bathed in music, the characters were wrapped in its train, all this history was mixed up on it. The dynamics of rock 'n' roll was replaced by the thoughtfulness of the blues and the rolling of country music. And in all this there was the meaning of the narrative love story, which at that time saved the singer.This is a biographical film about Johnny Cash, one of the most recognized singers and composers in his time, whose oeuvre was in the years glorified by the Great Elvis, and no less famous Karl Perkinson. But it was Johnny Cash who was recognized as a country icon. A mutually beneficial contract with Columbia Records brings success to him . In these years, the singer and composer has considerable problems: drugs and alcohol.The film shows the time when Johnny Cash, on tour, meets with June Carter, and with her he continues his performances. Being married, he falls in love with this woman. 10 years, this love is struggling with his attachments, and, at last, wins.It is impossible to tear your eyes from the actors. Charismatic Joaquin Phoenix, whose gaze attracts, makes you forget and admire, and the phenomenal Reese Witherspoon, who, like a jewel, shines on and off the stage. I did not expect such a frank, strong, naked game. This is the only biographical film I've watched 2 times and which has such a great impact on me. If you want to immerse yourself in the amazing music of the 60's, watch the struggle of love and hate, and want to see a happy ending, then this is that film, that you must obligatory watch.

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aleesilvia

I have just finished reading Johnny Cash' autobiography and this movie has disappointed me to much that I wanted to stop it half way but my wife wanted to see the end and watching it was my idea, so I had to see the whole thing. It swings from being unrealistic to being in plain contradiction with the reality of events and character of people (first of all, his father, June Carter and his relationship with both) as Johnny Cash describes them. I honestly think it insults his memory by pretending to be biographical. This is not a biographical film by any means, it's a hollywood style romantic/soap opera kind of movie about an artist who had indeed a very interesting and unique life, just nothing to do with this movie.

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