Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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 | |
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Dan Beene | ... | Ezra Carter |
Clay Steakley | ... | W.S. 'Fluke' Holland | |
Johnathan Rice | ... | Roy Orbison |
While growing up in the Great Depression era, Johnny Cash takes an interest in music and eventually moves out of his Arkansas town to join the air force in Germany. While there, he buys his first guitar and writes his own music, and proposes to Vivian. When they got married, they settled in Tennessee and with a daughter, he supported the family by being a salesman. He discovers a man who can pursue his dreams and ends up getting a record with the boys. Shortly after that, he was on a short tour, promoting his songs, and meets the already famous and beautiful June Carter. Then as they get on the long-term tours with June, the boys, and Jerry Lee Lewis, they have this unspoken relationship that grows. But when June leaves the tour because of his behavior, he was a drug addict. His marriage was also falling apart, and when he sees June years later at an awards show, he forces June to tour with them again, promising June to support her two kids and herself. While the tour goes on, the ... Written by kayleigh
"Walk the Line" is without question the zenith of Reese Witherspoon's acting career thus far. Joaquin Phoenix IS Johnny Cash in this biopic, but Reese as June Carter Cash sets this film on fire. It is one thing to portray a person's life, with feeling and emotion, something which Joaquin pulls off effortlessly. However, it is quite another to make a portrayal bigger than life, and Reese makes June Carter Cash the central character of this film.
To say that Reese steals the show is an understatement. Reese becomes a lightning rod for Joaquin's character, in a way that is actually quite scary. After all, Reese is from Nashville, and her Southern affect is flawless and absolutely winning. Suffice it to say that Reese will thankfully be present when the Academy Awards are presented next year. She might want to get a few words ready.
This movie will not be everyone's favorite flick, if for no other reason than that it is a biopic of flawed, Southern characters. However, perhaps the very flaws that imbue these characters with vitality and realism can establish the acting of Joaquin and Reese with an almost spiritual meaning, as they live these real people on screen. But in the final analysis, Reese Witherspoon will become the greatest contemporary screen actor upon release of this film. See for yourself. You read it here first.