In September 2003, the world bore witness to a great tragedy. After months of illness following the death of his wife, Johnny Cash died.
The response was immediate and international – Johnny Cash had been a living legend. He had recorded over 1,500 songs on more than 500 albums and authored several books, including two autobiographies and Man in White, a fictional novel about the Biblical Paul. He was the first person ever inducted into both the Country and Rock Music Halls of Fame, and he recently won the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Johnny Cash gave a face and a voice to an entire culture and to a philosophy of forgiven mistakes and undying passion. This past Friday, two years and a week after Cash’s death, a movie hit theaters in an effort to show the world how that philosophy was born.
Walk the Line, titled for Johnny Cash’s song of the same name, stars Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, Johnny’s best friend and wife of over 30 years.
It is based on Man in Black and Cash, Johnny’s two autobiographies. Other than a few minor incongruities, Walk the Line treats Cash’s own words with respect and puts them to film with faithfulness.
The film starts in Johnny’s childhood, giving the audience a glimpse of the conditions in which Johnny began life, and spans through his proposal to June Carter in 1968. The film, rich in music and history, is the story of Johnny Cash’s coming to terms with his place in the world as both a musician and as a person.
Joaquin Phoenix, whom you should remember from Ladder 49 and The Village, has had his own share of life trials, including the death of his brother, River Phoenix, and a struggle with alcoholism. Phoenix has often played either villainous or submissive characters, so the role of Johnny Cash was probably an interesting change for the 31-year-old.
Phoenix nonetheless lends himself completely to the character, filling in Cash’s many-faceted personality with passion and believability. He also does all of his own singing in the film, and does a rather excellent job of it.
Across from Phoenix is Reese Witherspoon (Vanity Fair, The Importance of Being Earnest) in the role of June Carter Cash. June, who came into the spotlight around the age of 6 performing with the rest of the Carter Family, was an accomplished musician, songwriter and comedian when she met Johnny Cash backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1956. She and Johnny would tour together for several years before they married and continued to perform together for the remainder of their lives.
June was known for her sparkling friendliness and unabashed optimism in addition to her musical talent, and Witherspoon steps up to this powerful role with impressive agility. Witherspoon, like Phoenix, does her own singing in Walk the Line. with skill and accuracy, and the audience’s immersion in the story is beautifully augmented by the genuine performances on the screen.
Both Phoenix and Witherspoon, unlike with other roles that they have had, are portraying characters of incredible depth, strength and complexity, and both splendid performances will leave you breathless.
On a geographical note, the Carter Family is based in Southwestern Virginia and is very much a part of the local heritage. June’s mother, Maybelle Carter, single-handedly developed the pick-strum guitar style that today is standard for folk-style music.
The Carter Family Fold, a small dance barn located about an hour north of where you are currently sitting, is still owned and operated by Janette Carter, Maybelle’s granddaughter, and has live music every Saturday night. There I had the privilege of seeing one of Johnny Cash’s last performances. Visit carterfamilyfold.org for more information.
The story of Johnny Cash is thrilling, saddening, painful and passionate. It is a story of fame, family, sin and salvation.
Johnny Cash, like everyone else, has made his share of mistakes in life, and Walk the Line attempts to chronicle the complete character of Johnny Cash – sinner or saint. During the zenith of his celebrity, Cash dealt with family problems, drug problems, and a constant struggle with his spirituality and self-worth.
Above anything else, Walk the Line is the story of one man’s learning to live his life and to make the best of what was given to him.
Love me? Hate me? I’d like to know. Send your comments/rants/suggestions to themoviegoer.cj@gmail.com.

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