Walk the Line (spoilers)

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:34 pm

I just caught this on dvd this morning, and thought it was one heckuva movie.

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon gave wonderful performances as Johnny Cash and June Carter.

And they did their own singing?

I thought it was very moving - how Cash survived a difficult childhood, went on to have an even more difficult adulthood - and finally found a moral compass and a reason to live in the love of June Carter and of her family.

That awful and awkward Thanksgiving dinner scene, where June's parents watch the interaction between Johnny and his father and then step up and begin to give John their support - that and the following scenes where John's life and health are finally starting to straighten out as he begins to dry out with the help of the Carters - that was an incredible series of scenes.

I'll admit it - the ending made me cry.

What a good movie.

Post by **Lorelei** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 6:41 pm

I just saw this movie on Monday and I agree Duchess. I really didn't know too much about Johnny Cash's life...more familiar with the music.

My roomate however refused to watch it because he was familiar with Johnny Cash's life and didn't think they would do a good job.....input anyone?

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:40 pm

I thought the movie was fantastic. I believe Phoenix more deserving of Best Actor than Whitherspoon, but that's beside the point. Phoenix IS Johnny Cash, no other actor could have pulled that off.

Post by **matrixman** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:27 am

I read Johnny Cash's 1997 autobiography, and that was enough for me. Of course, an autobiography isn't necessarily the most accurate record of a life lived, but I didn't really feel like reading another book on Cash just to compare notes. The movie never really interested me from the beginning, but based on the positive reviews I might check it out. Joaquin Phoenix is a fine actor, no question. However, I have not followed Reese Witherspoon's film career. I recognize her as the actress from Legally Blonde, and that's about it.

re: singing on their own -- yes, very brave of Phoenix and Witherspoon to put their reputations on the line like that. But, after all, the movie is called Walk The Line.

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 12:12 pm

What?!?!?? This movie is about Johnny Cash?!?? Thanks for ruining it for me, folks!!!

Just because you warned of spoilers doesn't mean you have to give the entire movie away!!!!

Yes, I'm kidding.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:16 am

MM, there's little new information on Cash's life, but I do think that you will enjoy the movie and the performances of Phoenix and Witherspoon.

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:22 pm

I finally saw this last night. I knew nothing about his life until I saw it. I was pretty surprised! Also depressed. Extremely well done.

Post by **Marv** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:32 pm

i love Cash and i'm a big fan of phoenix

The general who became a slave. The slave who became a gladiator. The gladiator who defied an emperor. Striking story! But now, the people want to know how the story ends

but after seeing Ali i wonder if there is much point to these sorts of films. how much can we ever know about someone? and i think i would rather be able to apply some of their achievments/songs to my own life. once you find out that Cash wrote a song because of specified experiences it loses some of its poignancy.

gee, i sound like such a killjoy! heh.

Post by **sgt.null** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:40 am

might inspire some to seek out the music of the leads. Phoenix was outstanding.

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Wed May 10, 2006 5:24 pm

Fist and Faith wrote:I finally saw this last night. I knew nothing about his life until I saw it. I was pretty surprised! Also depressed. Extremely well done.

I've been recommending it to all of my friends, and many of them have watched it and all of them have loved it.

That said, I have warned every one of them that the movie is on the bleak side until the Carters step in.

Once you see these very kind grandparents chasing away the drug dealer with the shotguns, suddenly you know that everything will work out.

Post by **Marv** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 11:16 pm

I saw it last night. I take back everything i said before. Great movie, great performances. I just wish i was as eloquent as Johnny and could put what i really want to say in words. Very emotional.....

Post by **lucimay** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:36 am

i thought it was only so so. witherspoon annoys me.

Post by **kevinswatch** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:32 am

I just saw this last night with my dad. I thought it was all right, but it was hard for me to feel sympathetic towards Cash at all (Was I supposed to? Heh.) I mean, this guy was messed up. Heh.-jay

Post by **Tulizar** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:14 am

I really enjoyed it. I grew up listening to Cash--he was one of my dad's favorites--so I was curious to hear Phoenix sing his stuff. I was impressed with Phoenix's performance and thought he did a good job singing.

Cash might have had a rocky upbringing and an a-hole father, but that didn't give him carte blanche to

Spoiler

ignore his kids, do drugs and cheat on his wife

But I love his music and am willing to overlook his faults because I'm not perfect either

.

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 11:04 am

**SPOILERS**

I don't feel sympathetic either. One coworker says it's a movie about one of the world's great love stories. I'm not able to overlook what he did to his first wife. Not that the movie was bad, it was great. Just that he was a jerk. At least as portrayed in the movie. I have no idea what may have been left out or changed. Maybe his first wife was a, um, shrew.

Post by **Plissken** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 1:39 pm

Well, one of the changes (according to Roseanne) was that her mother was very supportive of John's career, but that they needed to create some drama early in the movie. She also said that that was about the only real change she knew of, but that it was hard watching the movie, because it was like watching other people try to live her life - which I think says alot about how accurate the movie was.

That said, I thought that the film was more of a tribute to June than John - and I loved it for that.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:00 pm

witherspoon annoys me.

Yeah, me too. As I said earlier, I think Phoenix was the better pick for Best Actor.

Post by **Dragonlily** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 7:07 pm

I loved both Phoenix and Witherspoon in the movie when I saw it in the theater, but there were so many horrifying (to me) surprises that I couldn't say I liked the movie.

I eagerly bought the DVD as soon as it came out, then took many months before I could gather the courage to watch it. It made a huge difference to me that the bad parts weren't surprises anymore. I have watched the DVD many times now, and never tired of it. Phoenix and Witherspoon made me feel like I understood Johnny and June so well that I love them both.

I was thrilled for Witherspoon's Oscar, Phoenix's Best Actor awards, and every other award the movie won. I would also have like it to win an Oscar for best sound, based solely on that opening sequence, but we can't have everything.

And yes, I bought The Essential Johnny Cash CD. Also Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash 16 Biggest Hits, so recently that I haven't listened to it yet. Still watching for the recording of the Folsom Prison concert.

Post by **Farm Ur-Ted** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:29 pm

Tulizar wrote: Cash might have had a rocky upbringing and an a-hole father, but that didn't give him carte blanche to
Spoiler
ignore his kids, do drugs and cheat on his wife

Anyone know where I might be able to buy one of these carte blanches? I mean, it's for a friend. Do they sell them at Wall-Mart?

Post by **Fist and Faith** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 11:45 pm

pssssst... Ted...

*motions for Ted to follow down a dark alley*

I know a guy who knows a guy...

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Walk the Line (spoilers)

Walk the Line (spoilers)