Show Joaquin Phoenix Lines up for an an Oscar Nick Parker The Globe Johnny Cash Joaquin Phoenix is an American institution His songs are some of the most recognizable recognizable recognizable tunes in recent memory But the Man In Black was not always the musical genius of remarkable remarkable remarkable remark remark- able character He struggled struggled struggled with drug addiction a failed marriage and a lengthy convoluted courtship with June Carter Reese Witherspoon Walk The TheLine TheLine TheLine Line showcases Cashs Cash's rocky rise to superstar- superstar dom The film starts with Cashs Cash's young JR is played by Ridge Canipe brother Jack Lucas Till dying in a sawmill acci acci- dent Their father Robert Patrick actually says Lord you took the wrong son Summing up Johnnys Johnny's relationship with his father in one word would be easy After Cash leaves for forthe forthe forthe the Air Force he starts writing songs and upon his return marries a ayoung ayoung ayoung young sweetheart named Vivian They have a achild achild achild child and try to make ends meet while Cash holds a ajob ajob ajob job as a salesman When Johnny sees the opportunity opportunity opportunity to audition for a spot at a local record label his band gathers and gears up But the record exec shuns their initial Gospel offering citing sales figures figures figures fig fig- ures as his lone goal When Johnny quietly informs the executive that hes he's written a few songs his band is confused and sits back for a while I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die seemed to rejuvenate the bands band's spirits and caught the attention of the Sun Records producer and eventually started Cashs Cash's career in music Joaquin and Reese light up the screen with a tangible tangible tangible tan tan- gible chemistry that is both volatile and positive Their on-again-off-again on romances are the true storyline storyline storyline sto sto- sto- sto behind the Cash Cart Carters Carter's rs r's revolving door of husbands and Cashs Cash's often angry wife get in the way of an eventual eventual eventual even even- match made in en The musical numbers actually sung by the actors are almost as potent as their original counterparts Ring of Fire Man In Black and the title track are beautifully crooned by Phoenix and Witherspoon In the second second second sec sec- ond act Cash Carter Jerry Lee Lewis and The King himself Elvis Pressley tour America These scenes are some of the most interesting scenes because they show the beginnings of Cashs Cash's pill popping Lewis' Lewis lewd and crude attitude and Carters Carter's motherly charm With the way country music is moving these days Cowboy Troy enough said its it's nice to see the beginnings of country's golden age Walk The Line is one y s c s r ma r tsa 1 s x I 6 1 r y i 4 tI s roil r s 1 gaa tag Joaquin Phoenix plays Johnny Cash during his rise at Sun Records of the best films to be released in 2005 Surely it'll receive an Oscar nod for Best Actor Best Actress Best Music Score Best and Best Picture if not the whole enchilada This film will be great for filmgoers young and old although there is a little cursing music fans or just entertainment fansin fansin fans fansin I in general Walk The Line is rated PG V |