Written by Director James Mangold and Gill Dennis, the script is guided by Cash's books "Man in Black" and "Cash: The Autobiography" and focuses on the young Johnny Cash.
Johnny Cash, who went by the shorthand J.R. as a child, fought the demons that plagued his soul and lived to tell the tale, thanks to the tender love and determined spirit of June Carter Cash, his partner both on and off the stage.
Cash's story was made for the big screen. From his meager and tragedy-ridden beginnings, to his pal around days with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis and eventually his impetuous proposal to future wife June during a concert, Cash's life was a relentless rollercoaster of emotions.
The highs brought him love, wealth and celebrity, but the lows almost cost him his life. A constant comfort throughout the duration of the ride, however, was his beloved June. Cash grew up listening to June and her legendary musical family; as a child he enveloped himself in her twangy, melodious voice to escape the wrath of his drunkard father. During his army years, he even occupied himself by reading about her in music magazines.
"Walk the Line" is propelled by this underlying romance-it is one filled with heartache and frustration, but, above all, strength. By focusing on Cash's love for June, however, director Mangold veers away from other noteworthy segments of Cash's life, such as the development of his music. This is presented as somewhat arbitrary, clearly taking some well-deserved credit away from Cash. Still, it is a love story that Taylor Hackford's "Ray" lacked-audiences will find themselves connecting with "Walk the Line" in a way that "Ray" did not make possible.
The film opens moments before Cash's epic Folsom Prison concert in 1968 and soon takes us back in time to his early childhood as the son of an Arkansas sharecropper, leading us back to Cash's famously successful comeback, thereby allowing us the insight to fully appreciate the milestone. As we watch Cash suffer the loss of a family member and bear the scars left by his raging father, we also see his unflinching determination to succeed in the music industry. His music, "steady, yet sharp," as June described it, embodies this passion and will.
When Cash is finally discovered by producer Sam Phillips of Sun Records, the studio famous for discovering Elvis, he enters a whirlwind of fame and fortune. He is challenged each step of the way, whether by screaming female fans, drugs (the same kind Elvis used, Cash is informed) or the undying attraction and love he feels for the then-married June Carter. Brought together by a chance meeting of her dress and his guitar strings, their relationship matures slowly, defined by their duets onstage and banter and "accidental" kisses off, and comes to sudden fufillment with his spontaneous marriage proposal. Their chemistry is undeniable, and when it culminates onstage, the only place where they are able to truly be alone together, it is hard to take your eyes off the couple.
That being said, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon will without question receive Oscar nods for their breathtaking performances. Phoenix is Johnny Cash, down to his baritone voice and black suit. Phoenix captures Cash's turbulent life with utter perfection. Phoenix shows off his finely tuned acting chops-which he has done in a succession of roles since Commodus in "Gladiator"-in "Walk the Line," as does his co-star, Witherspoon.
Indeed, for the first time, Witherspoon will be taken seriously, and it's about time. She brings her charismatic comedic flair to the part, one that Carter herself was famous for. She plays Carter with both reserve and tenacity; the coupling of Phoenix and Witherspoon is strikingly dynamic.
Both actors also sing, accompanied by the instruments used by their real-life counterparts, which makes their performances even more stellar. When Phoenix and Witherspoon duet as Cash and Carter, they are a force to be reckoned with-just watch out for this double-act come Oscar night.