Walk The Line

Director: James Mangold

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Roberts, Dan John Miller, Larry Bagby, Shelly Lynne, Tyler Hilton, Waylon Payne, Shooter Jennings, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Dan Beene

7/10

Hollywood’s always had a soft corner for biopics. And recently there’s been a spate of them (Ali, Pollack, Ray, Capote). And when you’ve got the rockin’ life story of American country-music icon Johnny Cash you’ve got romance, drama, musical all rolled into one film! Cashing in on present trend, gifted director James Mangold (Girl, Interrupted; Identity) toes formula Hollywood line with Walk The Line ? biography of a legendary musician who lived life on his own terms giving in only to ? maybe not ‘sex, drugs and rock--roll’ but definitely love, drugs and his music.

Walk The Line got the Best Film Golden Globe, but globally speaking, can most people relate? After all, it’s an American as apple-pie tale about Country-Western’s blue-eyed boy. But Mangold makes it work? and how! Because his storytelling takes it out from a niche piece-of-history, makes it a slice-of-life story and treats it like a romantic musical. Where he deftly juxtaposes mundane details of Cash’s life with beautifully enhanced moments. Like when Cash meets singer/songwriter June Carter for the first time and instantly falls in love with her ? forever.

The film begins with Cash’s notorious performance for inmates at Folsom State Prison in 1968 and travels backwards in flashback. Son of poor farmers, little Johnny-boy picks up singing from his mom humming while the family picks cotton in vast fields of Arkansas. The director uses Cash’s life and musical journey through the 30s, 40s and 50s like a synechdoche, chronicling growth of a much bigger phenomenon soon to shake the world ? Rock--roll! So as music changes with time in the film ? from cotton-pickin’ blues, gospel, to early-rock--roll, Cash’s signature sound and rhythm also alters and forms. But 136 minutes is rather long for a Hollywood film. But just when it stretches and drags, a couple of wow actors pull you back in. And it’s totally worth watchin’ Joaquin (pronounced ‘Waakean’) Phoenix walkin’ the Cash line with his livewire portrayal and dead-on rendition of popular numbers like Ring of fire.

Reese Witherspoon’s waif-like presence and powerful projection as crooner June gets even better when sharing screen space with Joaquin. Their chemistry is infectious as the duo recreates legendary Cash-Carter magic on stage belting out favourite duet, Jackson. And their ‘love story’ probably enters American romance folklore’s hall-of-fame when he sings to her, I keep a close watch on this heart of mine?because you’re mine, I walk the line.

Mandira Mitra