Walk the Line (2005)

Director:

James Mangold

Writers (WGA):

Johnny Cash (book)
Gill Dennis (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

18 November 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

Love is a burning thing.

Plot:

A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Prison | Germany | Concert | Love

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 34 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Joaquin Phoenix	...	John R. Cash
Reese Witherspoon	...	June Carter
Ginnifer Goodwin	...	Vivian Cash
Robert Patrick	...	Ray Cash
Dallas Roberts	...	Sam Phillips
Dan John Miller	...	Luther Perkins
Larry Bagby	...	Marshall Grant
Shelby Lynne	...	Carrie Cash
Tyler Hilton	...	Elvis Presley
Waylon Payne	...	Jerry Lee Lewis (as Waylon Malloy Payne)
Shooter Jennings	...	Waylon Jennings
Sandra Ellis Lafferty	...	Maybelle Carter
Dan Beene	...	Ezra Carter
Clay Steakley	...	W.S. 'Fluke' Holland
Johnathan Rice	...	Roy Orbison
Johnny Holiday	...	Carl Perkins
Ridge Canipe	...	Young J.R.
Lucas Till	...	Young Jack Cash
Carly Nahon	...	Young Reba Cash
McGhee Monteith	...	Reba Cash
Wyatt Entrekin	...	Tommy Cash at 5
Hailey Anne Nelson	...	Rosanne Cash
Kerris Dorsey	...	Kathy Cash
Delaney Keefe	...	Cindy Cash (as Delaney Marie Keefe)
Victoria Hester	...	Carlene Carter
Deborah Rawlings	...	Diner Waitress
James DeForest Parker	...	Inmate
James Keach	...	Warden
Davielle Boyce	...	Maid at Door
Glenn Alan Gardner	...	Texarkana Stage Manager (as Alan Gardner)
Danny Vinson	...	Texarkana MC
Dave McPhail	...	Armory MC
Bob King	...	Armory Stage Manager
Natalie Canerday	...	Lady in the Aisle
Rhoda Griffis	...	Five and Dime Manager
Jeff Bailey	...	El Paso Taxi Driver
Ross Harkins	...	Record Executive
J.D. Evermore	...	F.B.I. Man
Helen Ingebritsen	...	Bank Teller
J.W. Williams	...	Pill Man
Shane Bowen	...	JR's Agent
Tim Ware	...	A & R Man #1
Dolan Wilson	...	A & R Man #2
J. Allen Scott	...	Dyess Doctor
Clare Grant	...	Lissome Girl (as Clare Johnson)
Michael Ingersoll	...	Donzil
Carter Thrower	...	Sheriff
J.P. McNeely	...	Musician (as Jean-Paul McNeely)
Brian Deas	...	NCO
Glenda Pannell	...	Neighbor Woman
Amy Lavere	...	Wanda (as Amy Kudela)
Tracee Mae Miller	...	Birdie Perkins (as Tracee Miller)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ken Axmaker Jr.	...	Record Company Executive / Reporter (uncredited)
David Caffey	...	Record Company Executive (uncredited)
John Carter Cash	...	Bob Neal (uncredited)
Mark Alan Compton	...	Extra (uncredited)
Brian Crider	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Richard Crowe	...	Service Station Guy (uncredited)
Gordon Dexheimer	...	Folsom Prison Guard (uncredited)
Josh Driver	...	Cash's Stagehand (uncredited)
Jeff Droke	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Jeff Evans	...	Folsom Prison Assistant Warden (uncredited)
Geoff Falk	...	Folsom Prison Assistant Warden (uncredited)
Jan Falk	...	Lady at the Five & Dime (uncredited)
Marc Farley	...	Ferlin (uncredited)
Gavin Lindsay Goode	...	Prison Guard Sniper (uncredited)
Melissa Goodwin	...	Flight Attendant (uncredited)
Cody Hanford	...	Tommy Cash Age 9 (uncredited)
Selene C. Hawks	...	Girl at Bus (uncredited)
L. Michele Hester	...	Columbia Records Secretary (uncredited)
Kimberly Hill	...	Concert Goer (uncredited)
Hunter Ian	...	Featured Extra (uncredited)
Nichole Jackson	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Laurie Johnson	...	Church Lady (uncredited)
Jason Lewin	...	Band member (uncredited)
Katie Lindsey	...	Rosey Nix (uncredited)
Mathew Luschek	...	Businessman #2 in Bathroom (uncredited)
Donald Meyers	...	Record Company Executive (uncredited)
Mike Montgomery	...	Man in Aisle (uncredited)
Vince Palazola	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Rich Parham	...	Salesman / Prisoner (uncredited)
Chris Plumlee	...	Stage Hand (uncredited)
Kevin Scroggs	...	Press Photographer (uncredited)
Brittany Shaw	...	Etta Grant (uncredited)
Ben Taylor	...	Jack the Drunk (uncredited)
Frank Hoyt Taylor	...	Passionate Preacher (uncredited)
Matt Taylor	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
Danny Thomas	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)
Sheila Thomas	...	Girl in Crowd (uncredited)
Jim Wright	...	Military Supervisor (uncredited)
R. Elkins Wright	...	John's Friend Randy (uncredited)

Directed by
James Mangold

Writing credits (WGA)
Johnny Cash		(book "Man in Black")
Johnny Cash		(book "Cash: The Autobiography") and
Patrick Carr		(book "Cash: The Autobiography") uncredited
Gill Dennis		(written by) &
James Mangold		(written by)

Produced by
Alan C. Blomquist	....	executive producer
John Carter Cash	....	executive producer
James Keach	....	producer
Cathy Konrad	....	producer
Lou Robin	....	associate producer

Original Music by
T-Bone Burnett		(as T Bone Burnett)

Cinematography by
Phedon Papamichael

Film Editing by
Michael McCusker

Casting by
Lisa Beach
Sarah Katzman

Production Design by
David J. Bomba

Art Direction by
John R. Jensen
Rob Simons

Set Decoration by
Carla Curry

Costume Design by
Arianne Phillips

Makeup Department
Jennifer Albada	....	makeup artist
Deborah Ball	....	hair stylist
Gloria Belz	....	makeup artist
Melinda Dunn	....	assistant hair stylist
Jane Galli	....	makeup department head
Kathrine Gordon	....	hair department head
Sandy Jo Johnston	....	makeup artist
Adruitha Lee	....	hair stylist
Patricia McAlhany Glasser	....	hair stylist
Lori McCoy-Bell	....	key hair stylist
Anne Morgan	....	hair stylist: Ms. Witherspoon
Judy Ponder-Patton	....	makeup artist (as Judy S. Ponder)
Scott H. Reeder	....	assistant hair stylist
Barbara Sanders	....	hair stylist
Betty Lou Skinner	....	hair stylist
Michelle Vittone	....	key makeup artist (as Michelle Vittone-McNeil)
Brad Wilder	....	makeup artist: Ms. Witherspoon
Beka Wilson	....	hair stylist
Bert Reo Anderson	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Linda Boykin-Williams	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Donna M. Premick	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jami Ross	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Tony Ward	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Alan C. Blomquist	....	unit production manager
Aaron Downing	....	post-production supervisor
Gina Fortunato	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rosemary C. Cremona	....	additional second assistant director (as Rosemary Cremona)
Stephen P. Dunn	....	first assistant director
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	additional first assistant director
Paul Byrne Prenderville	....	second assistant director (as Paul Prenderville)
John R. Saunders	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Curtis Akin	....	leadman
Dean Allison	....	construction foreman
Dylan Collier	....	scenic artist
Hugh Conlon	....	construction coordinator: Los Angeles
John Coven	....	storyboard artist
Chad R. Davis	....	set dresser
Tim Dingle	....	signmaker
Emmy Ellison	....	art department coordinator
Shepard Fairey	....	poster artist
L. Sonia Garcia	....	scenic artist
Tommy Gilbert	....	set dresser
Donald Goodman	....	drapery foreman
Josh Hadley	....	leadman
Kenneth Heimer	....	propmaker: reshoots
Frank Hendrick	....	set dresser
Dave Kennedy	....	set dresser
Richard N. McGuire	....	gangboss
Larry Misselhorn	....	head greensman
Debbie Nolan	....	construction foreman
Kris Peck	....	property master
Frank Piercy	....	lead scenic artist
Adele Plauche	....	set designer
Kaleo Quenzer	....	props
John Rabasca	....	set dresser
Spencer H. Register	....	set dresser (as Spencer Register)
Kelly Anne Ross	....	buyer (as Kelly Ross)
Peter Sattler	....	graphic designer
Eric Smith	....	paint foreman
Julie Smith	....	set decoration buyer
Sherry Trippett	....	painter
Gabriella Villarreal	....	assistant set decorator
Keith Wall	....	set dresser
David Weathers	....	set dresser
Gary Wimmer	....	scenic gangboss
Dalton Cole Young	....	on set dresser
Robert M. Bouffard	....	prop fabricator (uncredited)
Kathy Brunswick	....	construction buyer (uncredited)
Juliet Guimont	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Kon Iliov	....	construction foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ted Caplan	....	sound designer
Derek Casari	....	foley engineer
Kelly Doran	....	sound utility
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
Tim Gomillion	....	sound recordist
Doug Hemphill	....	sound re-recording mixer (as D.M. Hemphill)
Warren Hendriks	....	assistant sound editor
Mildred Iatrou	....	dialogue editor (as Mildred Iatrou Morgan)
Peter F. Kurland	....	production sound mixer
Kimberly Ellen Lowe	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly Lowe Voigt)
Paul Massey	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Murray	....	supervising foley editor
Steve F. Price	....	foley editor (as Steve Price)
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer (as Charleen Richards-Steeves)
Dennis Rogers	....	sound recordist
Monique Salvato	....	first sound assistant
Brian Seagrave	....	audio post-conform
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
William Stein	....	re-recording engineer
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Donald Sylvester	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Urmson	....	additional sound effects editor
Anthony Woodman	....	sound librarian
Mark Zimbicki	....	boom operator
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Robert Bolanowski	....	special effects technician
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects supervisor
Adruitha Lee	....	colorist

Visual Effects by
Julia Frey	....	visual effects producer
Paul Graff	....	compositing supervisor
Robert Stromberg	....	visual effects supervisor
Duke Walker	....	computer renderer

Stunts
Brian Avery	....	stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunt coordinator
Jack Lofton	....	stunts
Katie Lofton	....	stunts
Heidi Pascoe	....	stunts
Heidi Pascoe	....	stunt double: Reese Witherspoon (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Stephanie Beman	....	electrician
Khris Bennett	....	grip
Curtis 'Snake' Burnett	....	rigging grip
Alejandro J. Castillo	....	company electric (as Alexander J. Castillo)
Rob Chidester	....	company grip
Christopher Crowther	....	rigging electrician
Steve Drake	....	rigging key grip
Robert Duke	....	rigging electrician
David J. Duren	....	rigging best boy
Rod Farley	....	second company grip (as Roderick G. Farley)
Scott Friedland	....	company grip
Ray Garcia	....	key grip
Antonio V. Garrido	....	dolly grip
Jarek Gorczycki	....	assistant lighting technician
Bob Hall	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Justin Hughes	....	company grip
Kyle D. Hutson	....	rigging electrician
David Luckenbach	....	Steadicam operator
David Luckenbach	....	camera operator
Josh Malloy	....	company electric
Kevin B. May	....	company electric (as Kevin May)
Daniel C. McFadden	....	assistant camera
Ralph Merzbach	....	computer video playback
Heather Norton	....	first assistant camera: Memphis
Randale E. Nunley	....	light board operator
Harrison Palmer	....	electrician
Andrew Priestley	....	assistant camera
Paul Sanchez	....	camera operator
Scott Satterfield	....	rigging best boy (as Scott N. Satterfield)
Dan Schroer	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Daniel Schroer)
Philip Shanahan	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
John Sprague	....	rigging gaffer (as John F. Sprague)
Rafael E. Sánchez	....	gaffer
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
Daniel Tkaczyk	....	video assist operator
Ernie Wann	....	electrician
Eric Wheeler	....	camera loader (as Eric Shawn Wheeler)
Darryl Wilson	....	dolly grip: "b" camera

Casting Department
Charla Bowersox	....	casting assistant
Janelle Cochrane	....	casting associate
Shirley Fulton Crumley	....	location casting
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting
David S. Merrill	....	extras casting
Nicholas Ross	....	casting assistant
Brittany Shaw	....	location casting assistant
Christian Kaplan	....	executive in charge of casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wendy M. Craig	....	costume supervisor
Tangi Crawford	....	key costumer
Lorraine Crossman	....	set costumer
Christy Hebert Crouch	....	costume production assistant
David Fernandez	....	set costumer
L. Kellie Hicks	....	costumer
Rhonda Keaton	....	costumer
Pam Lisenby	....	tailor
Natasha Paczkowski	....	costume manufacturing foreperson
Marcy Rector	....	costume production assistant
Carlos Rosario	....	assistant costume designer
Sanford Slepak	....	costumer
Rachel A. Walker	....	costumer
Andrea E. Weaver	....	costumer
Joulles Wright	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Marisa Clayton	....	post-production Coordinator: Modern VideoFilm
Sara Cueva	....	assistant editor
Joe Finley	....	digital intermediate colorist
Quincy Z. Gunderson	....	associate editor
George Missor	....	epk assistant editor
Kay Sievert	....	colorist: dailies
Michael Hatzer	....	film color timer (uncredited)
Lonnie A. Mathes	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Jim Passon	....	film color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Bunny Andrews	....	music editor
Christine Bergren	....	additional music clearance
T-Bone Burnett	....	executive music producer
Terry Delsing	....	music editor
Art Ford	....	music consultant
Mike Knobloch	....	music executive
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz	....	supervising music editor
Frank Wolf	....	score mixer
Christopher Ward	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael Allegro	....	production van driver operator
Daniel Davis	....	driver: base camp generator
Monte Emery	....	transportation
John Lybrand	....	transportation captain
Vicki Lybrand	....	transportation dispatcher
Steve Moffit	....	local transportation captain
Hall Prewitt	....	picture car coordinator
Dusty Saunders	....	transportation coordinator
Debbie Bowden	....	driver (uncredited)
Brita McCollough	....	driver: cast trailer (uncredited)
Ralph W. Page	....	cast trailer driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Jacob Bartol	....	production assistant
Dawn Blacksten	....	assistant location manager
Roy Bogy	....	production secretary
Susannah Brengel	....	production accountant
Stephen Bridgewater	....	drama coach
Trent Broin	....	production assistant
Tom Carson	....	assistant production coordinator: additional photography
Robin Citrin	....	location manager
Parry Creedon	....	assistant: Ms. Konrad
April M. Deen	....	assistant: Ms. Witherspoon
Deborah Dismukes	....	assistant: Mr. Blomquist (as Deborah J. Dismukes)
Josh Driver	....	stand-in
Fletcher Elkington	....	set production assistant
Pamela Erwin	....	stand-in
Evan Feuerman	....	assistant post-production accountant
Carey Field	....	set production assistant
Sam Fleming	....	production assistant
Sarah Fleming	....	production assistant
Samuel V. Franco	....	radio programmer and spots
Corey Garnett	....	technology consultant
Jeffrey Gladu	....	payroll accountant
Reva Grantham	....	craft service
Matthew K. Grigsby	....	first assistant accountant
Carla Hacken	....	studio executive: Fox 2000
Marie Healy	....	key assistant location manager
Michael E. Jacobson	....	production assistant
Adam Karasick	....	assistant: Mr. Mangold
Richard Keith	....	assistant: Mr. Keach
Martin Lane	....	location assistant
L. Levin	....	publicist
Susan L. Levin	....	unit publicist
Natalie Mathes	....	post-production accountant
Caitlin McFarland	....	production intern
F. Ron Miller	....	title designer
Pamela Palmer-DoQui	....	assistant: Ms. Witherspoon (as Pamela Palmer Doqui)
Debra Pearl	....	assistant: Mr. Keach
Shannon D. Roddy	....	set production assistant
Robert Saba	....	location scout
Scott Sapire	....	assistant: Mr. Mangold
Sara Scarritt	....	production coordinator
Jenny Siff	....	production staff
Brett P. Smith	....	accounting clerk
Sharon Steinhauser	....	assistant: Ms. Konrad
Jack Stern	....	studio teacher
Joe Suffredini	....	falconer
Eric Brice Swartz	....	office production assistant
Birdie Talanca	....	assistant accountant
Andrew Trosmans	....	research consultant
Mark Van Horne	....	laboratory contact
Lisa Vijitchanton	....	assistant production coordinator
Sheila Waldron	....	script supervisor
John R. Whitehead	....	production assistant
Dalton Cole Young	....	set production assistant
Allen O. Battle III	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Brian J. McNamara	....	opening tiles, locators, end credits (uncredited)
F. Ron Miller	....	graphic artist: main titles (uncredited)
Howard R. Schuster	....	financing (uncredited)

Thanks
John A. Elkington	....	special thanks
Nathan Lux	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Fox 2000 Pictures
• Tree Line Films
• Konrad Pictures
• Catfish Productions
• Mars Media Beteiligungs

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2006) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2006) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Film1 (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digital Backlot (visual effects)
• Modern VideoFilm (opticals)

Other Companies

• Wind-Up Records  soundtrack released by
• Executive Assurance  security
• 20th Century Fox Studios  post-production facilities
• Capitol Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints (as Deluxe)
• Electromagnetic Studio  music recorded and mixed at
• FotoKem Digital Film Services  dailies (as Fotokem)
• FotoKem Digital Film Services  hi-definition telecine (as Fotokem)
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Modern VideoFilm  digital intermediate
• Modern VideoFilm  titles and opticals
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Runway  post-production
• Sound Emporium and Ocean Way Nashville  music recorded and mixed at (as Sound Emporium)
• Tai Audio  walkies provided by
• Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission  special thanks
• Village Recorder, The  music recorded and mixed at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language, thematic material and depiction of drug dependency (Approved No. 41675)

Runtime:

136 min | 153 min (extended cut)

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (Approved No. 41675) | Ireland:12A | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:PG | Norway:11 | Germany:6 | Australia:M | Czech Republic:12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Brazil:12 | Spain:18 | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/12 | Malaysia:U | Hungary:14 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | France:U | South Korea:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG13 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Arkansas, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Waylon Payne originally auditioned for the role of Waylon Jennings. The director was so impressed by Payne's audition that he cast Payne as Jerry Lee Lewis. Interestingly enough, the actor who got the role of Waylon Jennings was Waylon's own son, Shooter Jennings.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Johny and June are leaving the store with the fishing poles in Wheeling,WV, June says "I think there's a lake this way". There are no lakes near downtown Wheeling; however, the Ohio River runs along the entire length of the city.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Warden:M-Mr. Cash? M-Mr. Cash?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Won't Back Down (2012)

Soundtrack:

I'm Goin' to Jackson

worthy of its subject matter, truthful

Whenever I see so much "Oscar worthy" tags/blurbs in an ad campaign I get nervous, see Cinderella Man. Usually you look closely at the fine print and see that the esteemed critic lauding the film is Joe Schmoe from the One Stop Light Bugle Press in Buttcreek, Illinois or a low level flunky who just happens to work for the media conglomerate that is distributing the film. So my heart sank a little when a film I have been eagerly awaiting was swaddled with such praise when the ads hit the air.

But they're right for once.

Joaquin Phoenix wears Johnny Cash like a suit. He isn't doing a Rich Little impersonation, you don't rub your eyes in disbelief, but he channels a man so distinct in appearance and voice to a level that is beyond admirable. One of the traits that made Johnny Cash a legend was that nobody sounded or looked like him. Short of a computer generated Cash walking around in his own bio-pic like one of those John Wayne beer commercials this is the definitive representation.

And yet Phoenix may not give the best performance in the film.

Reese Witherspoon more than holds up her end in a role that easily could have been reduced to a clichéd bumpkin. Witherspoon portrays the on-stage June in the way June portrayed her own "character", the stage persona that people adored, while giving her the resolve and inner strength to be the woman who tamed a hell-bent, grizzly bear of a man like John.

The chemistry of Phoenix and Witherspoon together in any scene, but their on-stage duets in particular, are truthful in a way that resonates long after the credits. I know that unless you have been living in a cave for the past week you have likely been bombarded with the word that the actors sing themselves without use of lip syncing. I have never been a fan of musicals, or even musical performances in a film. They generally seem forced and uncomfortable to me, the moment when I stop experiencing the story and feel reminded that I am watching a movie. I never felt that in this film. I never felt that their singing took the focus of the film, but the performances work with the story like no other music bio I have ever seen. I never felt as if I was being led through the catalog, the songs felt as organic and natural as any spoken dialog in a great narrative.

This film far exceeded my expectations and afforded me the first trip home from a theater with a true feeling of satisfaction in a very, very long time. Highly recommended.