Walk the Line

For the most part, Walk the Line is simply a standard-to-good biopic, but the performances — especially by Reese Witherspoon as June Carter — elevate it to another level.

The film is a lot of fun for fans of classic rock and roll. Playing “spot the future icon” is a lot of fun when, say, Elvis is recording his demo song (one that few music fans would immediately recognize) or offering young Johnny Cash some uppers, in a moment of dubious historical reality, but great foreshadowing for the King of Rock and Roll.

Likewise, while the music isn’t quite as good as the originals — sometimes dramatically not as good — it’s credible enough and a lot of fun to listen to.

The film’s heart, though, is Witherspoon, who conveys with a glance knowing Joaquin Phoenix’s Cash for years, not the months the film took to make, and who subtly portrays a woman older than herself without relying on ridiculous special effects makeup or dialogue cues. Her portrayal of “the other woman” agonizing over her place in Cash’s marriage is believable and touching. I suspect her days of films like Legally Blonde II are behind her.

A great deal of fun and strongly recommended for fans of Reese Witherspoon or classic country or rock and roll music.

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