"Walk The Line"

Following the rise to stardom and subsequent descent into addiction, despair, and eventual rehabilitation, Walk The Line is a dark, unglamourous look into the life of Johnny Cash - the man in black.

The most startling thing about this movie is the performances from Joaquim Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, both of whom have managed to make their characters their own. Phoenix's portrayal of Cash is superb and perfectly convincing, adopting his gait and his southern drawl with aplomb.

Reese Witherspoon, as Cash's love interest June Carter, also shines on screen, though never to the same extent as Phoenix. She does, admirably though, manage to refrain from devolving her character into some sort of farce, which would have been all too easy to do. Her sparring with Cash over his unfulfilled love for her, and his constant advances (eventually leading to an on-stage proposal of marriage, after failing on the tour bus so many times) is touching, funny, and sincere.

The story itself if a slow-burner, starting at the infamous gig in Folsom Prison, then returning to Johnny's childhood and the death of his brother - something that clearly had a lasting effect on Johnny, as well as his strained relationship with his tough, emotionally-distant father (portrayed admirably by Robert Patrick).

The movie has the overall feeling of a confession, without any pretence of self-pity or desire for it. This is understandable, considering it is based on two books written by Cash himself.

Seemingly endless and over-long, Walk The Line is only slightly hampered by the pace. A great insight into one of the 20th Century's greatest musical legends. Perfect for those who've never been introduced to Cash's music.