Film review: Walk the Line

Maria Iglesias (C1):

As you know, sometimes we need a kind of impulse to encourage us to do things even if they are no big deal, like what I'm doing right now, writing to you about the last film I borrowed from José Luis, Walk the Line. The thing is last Monday we were having in class a little chat about this movie and there was an interesting comment by one of my classmates so I decided to write a film review. So here is my humble tribute to the rebellious country singer Johnny Cash and the gorgeous and ravishing film based on his life, Walk the line, a musical biopic set in the Great Depression.

While growing up with his family in the Arkansas countryside, Johnny becomes interested in the blues and country music he daily listens to on the radio. However, not until Johnny joins the Air Force in Germany at the age of 19 or so, does he start composing his own musical stuff. Once he leaves the Air Force, he marries Vivian and decides to live in Memphis in order to push ahead with his career as a musician, which launches as soon as Johnny and his band cut a record. Now, mix and match tours all over the country, loving affairs, family issues, amphetamines and tranquilizers with tons of great music and you are getting a sight of both the movie and Johnny’s essence.

Regarding the film’s title, named after a song by Cash, the movie is all about “walking the line”, that is to say following the rules and behaving in a balanced way. The point is Johny Cash wrote “Walk the line” at the time he got married to Vivian so it can be understood that he is going to walk the line - by not doing what he really enjoys but his wife doesn't - just because of his love for her, which, as the human beings we are, we know is not always fair. As another song goes, “sometimes you walk the line and sometimes it walks you”.

To sum up, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I am sure so would you, not only because of the captivating plot or the fantastic music but also the great cast the film has. Joaquin Phoenix nails Johnny Cash (the way he walks and holds his guitar, as well as his recreation of Johnny’s singing style, humming and talking out of the corner of his mouth) and so does Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, which indeed won her the Oscar for Best Actress.

So what can I say? Give it a try! I mean, watch the film or listen to Johnny Cash, a pioneer of rockabilly and rock and roll, a star of the 50s along with Carl Perkinks, Jerry Lee Lewis or Elvis Presley; and also a living legend of the 90s. Besides, according to a comment on Youtube (wise people!) Johnny Cash's music “would move Chuck Norris to tears”. Hey, that is pretty much!

By the way, have you seen another musical biopic you would like to write about? Ray? The Doors? Control? Sid & Nancy? Dreamgirls? La Bamba? The list is endless!