Walk the Line – so it ain’t “Ray” – last year’s big Oscar pick about Ray Charles. And it doesn’t star Jamie Foxx. This story, about the life of Johnny Cash stars Joaquin Phoenix, who (while never actually becoming Johnny Cash on screen) surprisingly holds his own, and vocally improves as the movie progresses. Like Ray Charles, Cash had a rural childhood and this tale does the flashback thing, full of drug addictions and love afflictions, and even a dead brother. The movie’s real revelation is Reese Witherspoon managing to ignite the screen as his lover and friend, June Carter Cash, a country singer legend in her own right, with the right dose of humor and gracious attitude. The movie introduces Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley who tour with the two love birds, during an era when country music made its respectable mark. Witherspoon and Phoenix convincingly lend their own vocals not only hitting every note, but hitting every emotional note of their lives tale as well. Three tiaras.
