I recently saw the movie Walk the Line about Johnny Cash (this site plays a ton of music). Very good movie, though not always pleasant and easy to watch. I tell you what, that man sure made a mess of himself for awhile.
It’s a fascinating look into his early life and career beginnings. You don’t need to have very much psychological insight to see the emotional damage he suffered growing up either, primarily received directly from his father. Makes you downright wince. And it wasn’t just growing up, his father was making it clear to him well into adulthood that he wasn’t good enough and that he didn’t approve of him.
The scary-looking (Johnny wasn’t too pretty himself) Joaquin Phoenix (pronounced Joe-ACK-quinn) plays Johnny, and Reese Witherspoon plays June Carter. The cool thing is, they both do all their own singing in the movie, and they actually do a pretty good job! I gotta tell you though, Joaquin completey blew the low note on “I Walk the Line.” Oh my. It’s bad. Not even close.
Well, I should really say this then. I just listened to the original (off of johnnycash.com), and actually Johnny doesn’t knock that low note out of the park himself either! On the original it’s a low C, I assume that’s what it was in the movie too.
There was a spot in the movie where some music came on faintly in the background and I whirled around to my wife and said “That’s the Blackwood Brothers!” It kept going and in a minute was turned up and brought to the forefront. I was beside myself. I forgot to look for them in the credits, but I was right.
The movie pretty much stops where Johnny and June were getting married. I really was hoping it would go a lot farther in his life and career, but I guess you have to end the movie sometime.
Good movie, painful but fascinating. I like movies about music and musicians.
Of course you remember the recent ITF Nod to Johnny. I like Johnny.
4 Responses
April 15th, 2006 at 10:25 pm
Tom, Dad, Mom, Galen, LeAnn, Kevin and Jean w/boys, and Nick are here for Jeremiah’s birthday. Galen just reminded me that he has a Johnny Cash “Orange Blossom Special” long play vinyl album, that Doug (maybe me) customized at an early age, (About 1966)by taking the needle on the player arm and scratching it back and forth across the album. By you mentioning that you watched this movie, it brought him to tears and opened old wounds and he just about beat me. Even though he couldn’t remember who damaged it. THANKS TOM!!!!!!!!
April 15th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
i have yet to see the “video” but very much plan to. Am a big fan of johnny cash myself. While in Hooserville last summer for the wedding of a dear family member i was able to purchase a c.d. of greatest hits while dining at a cracker barrel. I must say my children and wife are not exactly overanxious to shove ced c.d. into slot of family vehicles. Perhaps we can someday share it together and listen to rockisland line.
April 18th, 2006 at 8:36 am
I like Johnny too. And you do have to give Joaquin Phoenix the credit he does deserve. Who knew he could sing? My dad wants to buy the movie so he REALLY likes it. I thought it was awesome. And since we’re on Music Movies, have you seen “Ray?”
April 21st, 2006 at 12:47 am
I recently saw it as well with an astute musician friend of mine, I have his last CD he made before he died and like it as well. I think Joaquin pronounces his name jo-ah-KEEN or something like that….or I’ve been saying it wrong for a long time. :) Getting warmer here, 75 degrees today. Not quite time for us ex-valley dwellers to turn on the a.c. yet, but getting close!