Walk the Line is a guaranteed hit
Walk the Line
James Mangold
Joaquin Phoenix, Reece Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick
12
There have been several outstanding bios of musical legends in recent years, but none quite as stunningly memorable as this one about country star Johnny Cash.
Ireland being one of the largest and most important markets for country music outside the USA, Mangold’s magnificent film is a guaranteed hit.
But it is; or will be; for more than that: thanks to brilliant central performances from Phoenix as Cash and the wonderful Witherspoon as June Carter.
Both performances have Oscar writ large against them as they carry us through the often turbulent life and times of the great singer. Here, too, Mangold spares us nothing of the downside of Cash: it’s a tale told with warts and all.
And all-in-all this is one of the year’s most impressive films.
5/5