Kyle's Movie Review: "Walk the Line"

Any red-blooded American knows the passion and soul of Johnny Cash songs like "Personal Jesus" and "Ring of Fire." This same passion and soul comes to life in "Walk the Line," this week's campus movie on the great American songsmith.

America's ultimate outlaw, Johnny Cash, has his story told on the silver screen this Friday. The Man in Black is played flawlessly by Joaquin Phoenix. He was nominated for this year's Best Actor Academy Award. He lost to Philip Seymour Hoffman in a once-in-a-lifetime portrayal of Truman Capote. Netting the award for Best Actress, however, was Reese Witherspoon who played Cash's longtime gal, June Carter.

The movie shows Cash growing up in a working class family, with his constantly angry alcoholic father. After the death of Cash's older brother, his father said that "God took the wrong son." Coupling his superior musical talent with his hatred for his father, Cash was out to prove everyone wrong by being the best.

The movie covers Cash's career, including collaborations with Elvis Presley, Waylon Jennings, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Louis, and Willie Nelson. The plot, however, revolves around the romance between Cash and Carter. Beginning with Cash's repeated attempts at marriage proposals, the film also covers the lowest of Cash's lows. It is no secret that Cash suffered from severe drug addiction. He was an alcoholic and a pill addict. This vice nearly ended his career, marriage, and life.

If you love country music, check this movie out. Phoenix and Witherspoon perform all the vocals of their characters, much to the surprise of longtime Cash enthusiasts.

Fans of Walk the Line will also enjoy Ray, which won Jamie Foxx his first Oscar for his portrayal of the blind, drug-addicted music legend, Ray Charles. On a side note, Foxx also did his own vocals for that film. Walk the Line is guaranteed to entertain, so put on your favorite black shirt and step into a burning ring of fire...or at least the Science Center to see this cinematic gem.