=EF=BF=BC=EF=BF=BCWalk the Line -=EF=BF=BCNew Movie Reviews...
Reviewed by: Chris Monroe
Producer's Synopsis: =E2=80=9CHe picked cotton, sold door to door, and serv=
ed
in the Air Force. He was a voice of rebellion that changed the face of
rock and roll. An outlaw before today's rebels were born - and an icon
they would never forget. He did all this before turning 30. And his
name was Johnny Cash. WALK THE LINE explores the early years of the
music legend, an artist who transcended musical boundaries to touch
people around the globe. As his music changed the world, Cash's own
world was rocked by the woman who became the love of his life: June
Carter.
The story begins in Depression-era Arkansas, tracing the origins of
Cash's sound back to his beginnings as a sharecropper's son; moves
through his wild tours with rock and roll pioneers Elvis Presley, Carl
Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Waylon Jennings; and
culminates in his unforgettable 1968 concert in Folsom Prison. He
became the hottest artist of the day, outselling even the Beatles. WALK
THE LINE chronicles the birth of a new kind of American artist who had
to move past raw anger, the ravages of addiction, and the temptations
of stardom to discover the voice that would make him a hero to
generations. Those early years encompass the themes that ran through
Cash's music and minimalist style: death, love, treachery, sin, hope
and faith.=E2=80=9D
Review:
Director James Mangold explains that he sees three main threads running
through his biography film about real life =E2=80=9CMan in Black=E2=80=9D J=
ohnny
Cash. =E2=80=9CWalk the Line=E2=80=9D focuses primarily on Johnny Cash=E2=
=80=99s music
career, his bout with drug abuse, and his romantic love with fellow
musician and eventual wife June Carter. The story is a rather rigorous
one, emphasizing Cash=E2=80=99s struggle with various addictive substances,
but does manage to provide a glimpse into the redemptive work that
finally works itself out in his life.
Beginning and ending with Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) performing his
famous Folsom Prison concert, the rest of the story is primarily a
flashback of how this rough-and-tumble musician began his career and
helped shape the face of country music as we know it today. Not shying
away from his broken marriage or his lengthy struggle with drugs and
alcohol, the story also includes such positive aspects as how he was
discovered as a musician and how he found a love that helped lift him
out of the mire. The film ends in 1968, but in some respects Johnny
Cash=E2=80=99s life was only just beginning.
As the scriptwriter and director for the film, James Mangold defended
his reason for choosing to tell about this particular time of Johnny
Cash=E2=80=99s life because, as we know, story has to be about conflict.
Mangold describes this time of Cash=E2=80=99s life as the time when he was
pushing God away and basically destroying himself. Throughout the whole
film we see him in conflict with his dad, with his first wife, with
June Carter (Reese Witherspoon) and even with himself. It isn=E2=80=99t unt=
il
the end then that we finally see his life being restored.
Included in the film are a few situations that one may want to be aware
of. Many scenes show Cash popping pills and drinking alcohol, as well
as bumbling around under the influence of these substances. There are a
few instances of foul language, including the Lord=E2=80=99s name being tak=
en
in vain and the use of the f-word. John is also alluded to having
affairs with girls while on tour, and sleeps with June while he is
still married to his first wife, Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin). There is no
nudity, but this film unapologetically details the failures and foibles
of this man=E2=80=99s life.
Before Cash=E2=80=99s fame and success, his life was quite innocent and pur=
e=2E
He and his wife Vivian struggle to make ends meet while John works
various jobs and plays music with his friends on the side. The music he
first learns and plays is Gospel music, inspired perhaps by the hymnal
his mother gave him, which he also familiarized himself with while
growing up. Gospel music is also what he first plays when he auditions
for a record producer the day he is discovered.
However, the music that made Johnny Cash famous was not Gospel music,
initially. When Johnny Cash and his band audition for record producer
Sam Phillips (Dallas Roberts) with a song about how Jesus saved his
soul, Phillips tells him that he doesn=E2=80=99t believe John when he sings
it. Phillips tells John that Gospel music is not selling, and that he
wants him to sing something that is =E2=80=9Creal=E2=80=9D because that is =
what is
going to sell. So, John changes his tune, literally. Phillips also adds
that it=E2=80=99s not about God, but about believing in yourself. This makes
me wonder, if things did happen just like this, how Johnny Cash=E2=80=99s
life would have been different if he had decided to stick with Gospel
music.
It is also well known that John=E2=80=99s faith in God and in Christ Jesus
had the biggest impact on his life, and is what helped turn him around
for good. This critical aspect is somewhat inferred, but it seems to be
overshadowed by the emphasis placed on John and June=E2=80=99s love for each
other. Mangold said that he thinks it is June that ultimately saves
John=E2=80=99s life. But following the turning point where June rescues John
out of the lake, the two are shown attending a church service.
The acting and singing are quite impressive in this biography picture.
Since so much is known about Johnny Cash, and since people are so
familiar with his voice and music, the task of portraying him is quite
daunting. Phoenix faithfully executes various nuances of Johnny Cash,
as does Witherspoon in portraying June Carter =E2=80=94 and both sing their
parts excellently. Mangold explains that he sees a great asset in
having the actors sing these parts (instead of using a voice double)
because this way the actors have an outlet to express so much more of
their characters.
Walk the Line is a real life, honest look at Johnny Cash=E2=80=99s life. It
has it=E2=80=99s entertainment, as well as a heavy dose of scenes about
drugs. The performances are great, but the lack of focus on John=E2=80=99s
spiritual life, specifically with his faith in Christ, was
disappointing. Overall, though, it is a redemptive story.
Violence: Mild / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Mild
See list of Relevant Issues =E2=80=94 questions-and-answers.
=EF=BF=BC
Year of Release =E2=80=94 2005 / USA release: November 18, 2005 (wide); DVD
release: February 28, 2006.
=EF=BF=BCRead: God, Drugs and Country Western =E2=80=94 our interview with =
WALK THE
LINE=E2=80=99s director and actors Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon and
others
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Positive - Walking the fine line of making a movie based upon someone's
life can be a very controversial dilemma. In today's ever changing
world of distorting history, re-writing facts and making things up to
make us feel better or worse about someone's life, it is extremely hard
to find the truth. However, 'Walk the Line' is the TRUE story of the
first couple decades in Johnny Cash's career. The facts of this movie
have been extensively researched and verified by almost every single
person in Johnny Cash's life and is a flawless representation of the
Man in Black.
If you are expecting a glorious representation of a wonderful man, then
you will be watching the wrong movie. Wonderful YES, Glorious NO! This
is the story of a man who was blessed by God with a gift of bringing
music to life, though conviction and experience. Being raised by an
incredibly Godly woman and a father who blames him for his brother's
death, Johnny Cash sets out to find out who he is in life by joining
the military and pursuing him dreams. He knows one thing, and that is
that he loves music, God and his high school sweetheart who end quickly
marries.
After Johnny Cash's first hit, he meets June Carter and falls almost
instantly in love with her, all while he has a loving wife waiting for
him at home. For years June tries to resist Johnny Cash's advances,
knowing that she must do what is right. Eventually Johnny turns to
drugs and women to fill the void that was once fill by God.
As time goes on Johnny's wife Viviane sees his love increasing for June
Carter, and her heart begins to ache, and Johnny does not make any
qualms about hiding it, making things incredibly uncomfortable for June
Carter, because of her denial of his advances. Regrettably, Johnny and
June have an affair of which June feels horribly guilty about, so she
distances herself from him, knowing that her desires for Johnny are
wrong. This begins the battle of Johnny's life, when he slumps into a
horrible depression, and he falls deeper and deeper into drugs and
alcohol.
Eventually this cost him his family and the person he once loved.
Eventually, through June Carters forgiveness for things that occurred,
Johnny comes back to the Lord and comes back to the understanding that
his life is falling apart. He makes an amazing comeback with June by
his side, supporting him all the way.
This movie was one of the most amazingly acted movies I have ever seen.
I would venture to say that this is an 'Actors' movie in every possible
fashion. They bring life the struggles, pain, love and desires of both
June Carter and Johnny Cash without a hitch. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese
Witherspoon both deserve the Academy Award for their performances and
both people use their own talents to represent the dynamic duo. Johnny
Cash was on site while they were making this movie in the beginning and
absolutely stunned by Joaquin Phoenix portrayal. Very similar to Jamie
Foxx and Ray Charles.
One hour of the movie is spent dealing with popping pills, excessive
drinking and dealing with Johnny Cash's depression. I have to say after
living with my brother who was famous, wealthy and a suffering and
depressed addict. I have never seen a more realistic representation of
a tortured soul as 'Walk the Line' has shown. The fits of rage, self
abuse, frustration with the habit and the desperate need to escape
reality were vital and portrayal of Cash and were done with as much
class and stamina as we can expect from a PG-13 movie. Sadly my
brother's life tragically ended a one year after trying to kick the
habit. What this showed me was that being able to give up his
addictions was probably his most incredible accomplishment. Like
Monroe, Elvis and so many other, addictions usually take your life but
God truly had a purpose for Johnny Cash's life.
Those of you who are expecting the greatest vocals in the world will be
sadly disappointed. Johnny Cash was not know for he's amazing vibrato
but the way he delivers the words, with crisp and clear tones delivered
with conviction. Joaquin's voice was just amazing for not having
experience in the music industry, as was Reese Witherspoon.
Something that I found remarkable in the portrayal of Johnny's life,
was the fact that they did not glorify, justify or even hint that the
relationship between June and Johnny was right or correct, while he was
married. Instead they portrayed this part of his life as wrong and
inappropriate. Just the way Johnny Cash felt in real life, while he
wrote his autobiography. The other day one of Johnny Cash's kids walked
out of the prescreening because she was offended how they portrayed her
mother, however if she would have waited a few moments later, Viviane
was really a hero and someone who loved her husband. A woman who wanted
a husband and a father which Johnny was clearly not at that time.
Many of you may not be happy about the fact that they did not go deep
into Johnny Cash's belief in Jesus Christ. While they did not dive into
that part of his life, they definitely showed his roots and that he
never wavered in that aspect. The movie really was about the first part
of his life and he really rededicated himself later in life with the
help of his wife June Carter Cash and her family.
The end of the movie wraps up with him forgiving his father and in a
place where he is truly blessed.
WARNING TO PARENTS: There is 1 F-word in the movie and only a few other
bad words. There is NO sex or nudity at all, and the movie is fine for
teens. I would say with some of the subject matter that it would not be
the best fit for kids, however understand that the subject matter is
very tactfully done. This was not a movie that glorifies sin but the
contrary.=E2=80=A6
My Ratings: Offensive / 5
=E2=80=94John Kehrli, age 31
Positive - Johnny Cash, a man who has touched millions through a simple
thing as a guitar and his unmistakable voice. This movie serves as a
biography of the man behind the music, and it will touch your heart.
Cash's tale is a gritty one, as he has to battle drug addiction,
divorce, issues with his father thinking he wasn't good enough for him
and other things. I can identify a good deal with how his personality
was, and this movie served as a realistic and overall uplifting
portrayal of an American music legend. I will do what I can now to seek
out his albums, because I feel I have missed out on something truly
special. I felt that his faith could have been talked about more
directly, however, it was very tastefully done, and his courting of
June Carter was quite fun to watch, especially for the romantic ending.
I highly recommend this movie for teenagers on up.
My Ratings: Good / 5
=E2=80=94Ben Webb, age 22
Positive - This is an amazingly well-made biopic about Johnny Cash and
June Carter. I knew a little about his life. I remember seeing him and
June Carter on a variety of talkshows way back in the 60s and 70s. The
lead actors are superb, especially Reese Witherspoon, who totally
captures the essence of June Carter. Yes, one does see Johnny Cash as a
drunk and a drug addict, but we also see June Carter as the woman of
God who helps him overcome these addictions =E2=80=94 and his abiding love
for her. It is very clear from the storyline that Johnny Cash's
childhood was not happy and was a factor in his self-destructive
lifestyle. It is not easy to summarize a life, and in this case, two
lives, as they interweave. The movie accomplishes its goal well. Highly
recommended, despite the depiction of the sins of these complicated,
talented people. In the end, they are redeemed, thank God.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4=C2=BD
=E2=80=94Halyna, age 59
Positive - Appeared to be an accurate portrayal of their life together.
The movie did NOT glorify drug or alcohol usage and shows the harmful
effects on the health of the person and the family. Since the movie
ended soon after their marriage, their commitment to Christ and gospel
music was not seen. A very encouraging example of how a committed wife
can help her husband succeed. Personally, I would not take anyone under
15 yrs. due to language and some sexual inferences.
My Ratings: Average / 4=C2=BD
=E2=80=94Sharon, age 43
Positive - =E2=80=A6I think 'Walk the Line' is going to be this year's big
Oscar winner. Joaquin Phoenix (Johnny Cash) gives an incredible
performance as a man focusing his energies into his passion which is
music, while dealing with the demons of his past and present that come
into his life. Reese Witherspoon (June Carter) manages to shine as
well, as she borders on leaving Johnny altogether to wallow in his own
misery to sticking by him as a true friend/companion that eventually
brings him out of his drug dependency lifestyle and finding out that
they really were meant for each other all along.
The actors used their own voices in the film and it makes it more
entertaining knowing they went the extra mile to give the film a sense
of realism, this feat was not easy, as to my knowledge neither actor
has had any musical/singing background before they started this
project. Language is kept on the light side, and there are issues
dealing with drug dependency, but this is essential in telling the
story. All in all a great film that will entertain most mature teens
and adults alike. You don't have to be a fan of country music or Johnny
Cash to appreciate this film. Go and see it, I think you'll be glad you
did!
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
=E2=80=94Tom Becker, age 37
Positive - Incredible movie, and a definite must see. It does have a
bit of bad language, but only like 5 words. It is a very true to life
movie about Cash and does include some of his Christian upbringing and
portrays it in a very positive way. You can;t go wrong with this movie.
My Ratings: Good / 5
=E2=80=94JR, age 23
Positive - My husband and I saw this movie even though Johnny Cash was
before our generation, and we really weren't that familiar with his
background. We absolutely LOVED IT! Joaquin and Reese do their best
work in this movie. Obviously, it deals with real life struggles such
as drugs and infidelity, so I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under
13, but it's very engaging. You won't want it to end.
My Ratings: Average / 4=C2=BD
=E2=80=94Rachelle Smotherman, age 32
Positive - =E2=80=A6More than any other major film this year, this story has
a gospel message. (Spoilers follow in this paragraph and the next.)
When Johnny Cash is at one of the lowest points of his life, June
Carter tells him that God has given him a second chance, and shortly
thereafter they are seen going to church, where June makes clear to him
that he is welcome despite everything he has done. =E2=80=A6And while the
film starts shortly before the two get married, the epilogue states
that they were married for more than three decades, certainly a
contrast from the instability he had prior to turning his life around.
June clearly was doing what good Christians do, caring for someone and
showing him the way.
Yes, this film does portray adultery, drug abuse and foul language. But
none of them are shown as being desirable or worth emulating. I must
say I was incredibly how impressed the two lead actors did their roles.
It's one thing to play a historical character, it's quite another to
play people anyone seeing this film will be familiar with. They both
pulled it off quite well, even the music.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4=C2=BD
=E2=80=94Eric, age 52
Positive - I struggled with the moral rating, but decided on good. My
Lovely Bride and I are conservative Christians who know the Bible as
literally and figuratively the bedrock of our lives. And when we heard
that Walk the Line had sexual references and vulgar language in
addition to the drug usage, we had some reservations. But the movie was
well worth the money and the time. The drug and alcohol use in the
movie were in no way glorifying that lifestyle and clearly led to a
moral decay that Johnny and his family couldn't escape. The sexual
references were not crude, nor were they sugar-coated. They reflected
the horrible betrayal that Johnny inflicted on his first wife and the
movie showed the emotional pain visited upon all of them, including
him.
I didn't expect a Hollywood movie to actually endorse a Christian
lifestyle, and this one does shy away from it. So I can't give it an
Excellent moral rating. But it was good. I will let my son see it when
he is on the edge of becoming an adult, as an object lesson in what
happens when one of us turns from God toward sin in any of these forms.
Finally, as many others have mentioned, the acting was superb. I am not
a fan of Phoenix or Witherspoon. But they captured the essence of
Johnny and June. My wife thought their voices were accurate as well,
though I disagreed on his. While Phoenix definitely has good pipes, he
never convinced me I was listening to Johnny. But that is probably
unfair, because that is one voice that I have never heard duplicated.
My Ratings: Good / 4=C2=BD
=E2=80=94Alan, age 37
Positive - I had often wondered why Johnny Cash sang some of the songs
he sang, so the movie certainly helped explain his boy to man story in
detail from about 1944-1968. The acting was good all the way through,
and the atmosphere was memorably powerful within the first minute. Cash
thumbs a menacing circular saw-blade in Folsom Prison and as the
inmates pound their feet in anticipation of the Man In Black, we're
taken back fascinatingly to his early days on a laborious cotton farm
in Arkansas. There were aspects of June & John's lives that I never
knew. I was interested in the choice of songs and why the movie
suddenly ended after two hours of tension and heartbreak during a hoped
for final happy moment. After all, we sweated with John during his drug
dependency and we yearned with June over her inner turmoil and divided
loyalties and then the story was done. I would have liked to have seen
more of the Carter family influence and what happened inside the church
Johnny & June were seen approaching after he had gone 'cold turkey'
with her help and with her parents 'riding shotgun.' One more
triumphant song would have been perfect, but it was a good experience
and I want to see it again. I WILL buy it when it goes DVD with extra
scenes, and want my kids to see it when they reach teen age! One 'f'
word late on, no nudity, implied sex during adulterous behavior, heavy
drinking. Good flick, with a message!
My Ratings: Better than Average / 4
=E2=80=94Chris Marsden, age 50
Positive - This was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.
Finally, I felt comfortable in a theater and could enjoy the entire
movie. 'Walk the Line' is not apologetic about the bad turns and
choices in Johnny Cash's life. It shows that sin DOES have
consequences. The story was great and made me more interested in the
music and his life. I wanted to know more about his faith and what he
believed in; they didn't delve deeper into that in the movie, but after
all this is a Hollywood movie. I was plain surprised to see the main
characters attending church in one scene!
As for the quality of the movie, it is excellent. You really feel like
you are sent back in time to observe the musician's life. The film
moves through the thirties to the sixties, without missing a step. The
music is fantastic of course. There are three or four instances of
swearing, but no where near what appears in regular movies today. I
would highly recommend this movie to anyone with an interest in music
or who likes historical movies.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
=E2=80=94Sara H., age 19
Positive - I enjoyed this movie, but wish that they had showed more of
Cash's life after he and June were married. I also wonder if Cash was a
Christian while having the affair with Carter, or it he became a
Christian later.
My Ratings: Good / 5
=E2=80=94Bill Boylston, age 46
Positive - I have heard so much about this film, and being a bit of a
fan of Johnny Cash and June Carter... I was looking forward to seeing
it. You know how something is built up too much for you and then when
you finally see it... it doesn't live up to your expectations? Well..
that sort of happened to me with this movie. I was a little
disappointed. This movie is being advertised on a local Christian radio
station here. (Perhaps because I live in TN where the Cashes were from)
and I was expecting more about their spirituality. There is one very
short scene where she is taking him to a church service, and it shows
them walking toward the church and hymn singing is in the background.
That is about it accept for one time she mentions God and you hear them
talk about Jesus a little at the beginning. This movie isn't really
about that. The story actually ends with John and June getting engaged,
so perhaps the spiritual growth parts of their lives probably came
after that....but I was always under the impression that she led him to
the Lord, or back to the Lord. This film does show her influence, but
it really looks like SHE was his salvation, and not the Lord. It is
based on his book, and they did approve the script, so I guess that
means it is pretty acurate. What this story is really about is how they
met and fell in love and it is not a good story in the sense that he
was married at the time and they clearly did some wrong things...
making the road to their union a very rocky one that messed up many
lives along the way. And yes... this is yet another movie about a
celebrity who got messed up with drugs and booze and sex before getting
his life in order. We've seen it in films about Elvis, Ray Charles,
Judy Garland... and even Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter, which
is still probably the best one in this genre. So what makes this movie
worth seeing? Easy. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. They are
both very good actors=E2=80=A6
My Ratings: Average / 4
=E2=80=94Warren Sager, age 48
Comments from young people:
Positive - Walk the Line portrays the beginnings of Johnny Cash's life
and his road to fame (or infamy - however you view it) Admittedly,
there are a few instances of profanity and suggestive situations, but
one must remember that this is an accurate image of the effects of
drugs and alcohol. DO NOT TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO THIS MOVIE - In my
opinion, no one under 15 should see this film. Drugs and alcohol play a
major role. While these are shown to have a detrimental effect on
Johnny's life, this content may not be appropriate for the younger
audiences. Walk the Line does show Christianity in a positive light - a
very refreshing change from the secular norm.
My Ratings: Better than Average / 5
=E2=80=94Michael, age 17
Positive - Very good movie! Some profanities and sexual suggestions,
but Joaquin Phoenix does an excellent job at portraying Johnny Cash, as
does Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. It is all based pretty true to
the life of Johnny Cash. It was pretty sad seeing the character depend
on drugs as much as he did. I would recommend it to most everyone.
Great movie!!
My Ratings: Average / 5
=E2=80=94Meagan, age 15
Positive - WOW! I loved this movie. It portrayed Johnny Cash's life
perfectly! Drugs were a major part of this movie, but in order for the
movie to be true it had to be in there. It definitely showed
Christianity in a positive light via June's outlook on Cash's life.
The acting/singing in this movie were absolutely amazing! Whenever I
hear Phoenix say 'hello I'm Johnny Cash' it gives me tingles! I would
not recommend this to anyone under 13 or 14; it is a serious movie that
kids under that age would not appreciate. There is some innuendo as
well as swearing.
I am definitely going to see this movie again and maybe buy it when it
comes out! Excellent movie, you don't want to miss it!
My Ratings: Offensive / 5
=E2=80=94Brittany, age 17
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in Christian Spotlight reviews are
those of the reviewers (both ratings and recommendations), and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of Eden Communications=C2=AE or the
.
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