Pre-Release WALK THE LINE Discussion

i dig the idea of a johnny cash biopic... but that trailer really didn't excite me.

Joaquin looks spot-on, even though it was weird hearing him talk the first time. Is he really singing in this movie, or are we in for another pseudo-cop out like in Ray?

I believe that's actually Joaquin singing.

I was surprisingly underwhelmed by this trailer. It's a project I've got a fair amount of anticipation for, but that trailer did next to nothing for me.

I am as excited about this as I was "Batman Begins", my top two of the year.

Yes, that is Joaquin singing. I think its really cool how here and on other boards some people are really fooled by it, but if you really lsiten to a ton of Cash like I do, you can hear the difference.

Still, its amazing impression. Ray Charles is pretty much of a caricature anyway, instantly recognizable faces and mannerisms that Foxx nailed perfectly, but were pretty ripe for impersonation anyway. JOhnny Cash however, had a signature voice, but I was impresse by how many of his lesser trademarks Pheonix has seemingly nailed (the quick saunter to the mic, the glare, the smirk, and that perfect drawl/growl).

I think this should be better than "Ray" by a lot, which wasn't even one of the better biopics anwyay. Some things we need to see:

*The drugs. Johnny was very bad into amphetamines and what not, and it ravaged his body and his voice. His concept albums from the 60s, during the height of his drug use, show him almost unrecognizable to his usual look.

*He believed JUne and Jesus saved him, and it was a major part of his life, that needs to be there.

*"Ring of Fire", his rendition sounds grat. It was actually written by June though during his drug days, here lament at how she coudn't help falling for him despite his wild ways. That could be a good movie moment.

*The prisons. Cash had major compassion for prisoners. He would sing the rowdy tunes, then finish off with gospel. They loved him, and "Folsom" and "San Quentin" are amazing albums.

Seems like they are already nailing a lot of these. Hope this turns out great.

Cleft-boy?

That's dumb.

Of course he doesn't exactly like Cash. Johnny Cash is one of the most recognizable and unique voices in all of music history. No one is going to nail it completely. The point is that the filmmakers and Pheonix made a very ballsy move that I think is going to pay off nicely. THere's nothing more distracting than when one of these biopics does lip-synching, or worse yet, includes footage of the real person. Take "RAy", a really great impersonation that had the rug pulled out from under it when they then filled him with Charles's real voice. It destroys your suspension of disbelief, it just draws attention to the differences.

And frankly, Pheonix is doing a good impression. Sorry, but I didn't expect him to even get this close. He's got the mannerisms, the look, and the voice is close enough. He doesn't sound like him in real life, and he won't in the movie. Not exactly. What would be worse is having him during the non-musical parts sound one way, and then miraculously sound 100% like the real Cash through lip synching. That would just be goofy. This is going to give the performance more integrity.

And again, he does sound pretty damn good. Oh, and your cleft lip obsession is just stupid.

Cash in his 60s and 70s was a face known to millions, after years of drug abuse. Portraying Cash as a young man, in the military and starting out with in the music business, will be different.

The challenge here won't be overcoming his 'huge deformity' as you put it, but to portray Cash's angst and self-destructive behaviour. Phoenix is probably one of the few actors out there who can do the job. If you don't like him, why not suggest someone you think is better?

this looks like a winner to me.... a lot of biopics lately though......

Great. Another film glorifying a drug addict musician who sang about shooting people. Why do we need films like this?

Man, it seems NiveK really thinks Phoenix is going to cash and burn in this role.

My good buddy and I are super jazzed to see this, I love Cash's stuff, and from just the trailer alone, I think Phoenix is gonna do a damn fine job on this one. I'd also like to add to the "Ray" hatewagon.

Because we haven't had a great one yet.

Dan, do you know anything at all about Johnny Cash, his music, or his life? Because that statement really doesn't sound like it.

You're making it sound like he's some country 50 Cent, which is as far wrong as it gets. Back then , his drug addiction was something shameful, which he eventually overcame through his wife and, according to him, a renewed belief in Jesus. It destroyed his looks, his voice, his first marriage, and ultimately had him die relatively early given how long people live these days. No story of Johnny Cash should glorify drugs, as in his terrific autobiography he says he doesn't even want to mention them because he believes that any description of his hell-raising will eventually seem to be a glorification of it being "cool".

He sang a few songs from the viewpoint of a criminal, even a murderer, but they were always about the eventual punishment that "he" recieved, the remorse he had, and the way it ruined his life.

I believe Dan was actually underlining the hypocrisy of people who are all smiles for this flick but were frowning when almost identical subject matter was presented in the form of Hustle & Flow and the trailer for the 50 Cent flick.

Bingo.

Although the subject matter isn't really "almost identical", it's close enough to make the point. Classic white musician overcomes addiction/crime/personality disorders = uplift. Young black musician overcomes addiction/crime/personality disorders = glorification.

If he does, he'll rise from the ashes.

For he is a Phoenix, you see.

the above is genius

I'll bet this will be a great movie. Sure, the trailer isn't all that good, not as good as it could be. But no one can deny how uncanny Joaquin looks like Johnny Cash in this movie. And if it is him singing, he sounds pretty close. I haven't listhened to a lot of Johnny Cash stuff, but I plan on doing so before the movie comes out.

I want to get to know Johnny Cash a little better than I do now before I see it. Because a biopic isn't always the real deal.

Fair enough I suppose, but Johnny Cash is a poor example to try to make your point, for the reasons I already stated. I listen to 50 cent and loved "Hustle and Flow", but there's just simply worlds of difference. 50 Cent raps about killing people to sound tough and make the point of how he's gotten where he is. Cash's songs are all about the futility and pointlessness of that kind of bravado, and the way it ruins your life. "Don't Take Your Guns to Town", "I Hung My Head", "Folsom Prison Blues" are three biggies off the top of my head, and the man recorded similar stuff for 40 years.

As for the drugs, doesn't matter. Show me a movie about a singer or artist that doesn't show their drug use. It is simply, for right or wrong, a usual feature of artists.

Once again, does this help you understand?

It's not about ego, its about making the performance more consistent, more real. If he wasn't close than okay, I'm with you, but the guy is pretty damn close.

That trailer walked the line between good and pretentious.

Good, but not great. Joaquin is often excellent.

How soon can we expect a full review? This is my most anticipated release of the year, and given what I've seen, I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Glad to hear Joaquin's Johnny is as good as its looking to be. Since I know you didn't care for "Ray", would you consider this better or worse, or about the same?

I liked Ray well enough. Review will be up before release, as usual.

There was some pretty extensive coverage in the NY Times about this today, including a big piece on Witherspoon's June. Interesting stuff, and worth tracking down for those who are anticipating this. Cool side note: In their round up of "Performances to Watch", they gave special mention to CHUD Favorite Robert Patrick as Johnny's father.

Yeah, Patrick as Ray Cash should be great. It's a pretty fascinating relationship they had, if the film explores it. I guess they had a strained relationship for a long time, but later reconciled. He was at the Folsom prison concert, the warden or someone introduces him at one point on the album. I'm hoping for some good cameos. I saw Jerry Lee Lewis in the trailer, but he and Elvis were together at Sun at the same time, and he was close friends with tons of famous musicians like Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Merle Haggard, and on and on and on.

The part of this movie that really surprised me was Reese, who has a killer voice, as it turns out (at least for twangy country stuff). And her performance will probably win her a lot of new fans.

Can't say how accurate the imitation of Cash was on Phoenix's part, but it's a good performance. The use of music is pretty great, though I was surprised at how fast they brushed over "Ring of Fire" (though they do perform it of course).

I was kind of surprised that Cash never actually went to prison, though.

Its a common myth. He spent the odd night in jail for various drug offenses and what not, but never prison. People always assumed he had though, especially after the prison concerts.

So you've seen it? Witherspoon's voice, from what I heard in the trailer, is dead on to June Carter. I was very impressed, and I can't wait to hear her sing.

Other than "Ring of Fire", what other songs are in the film? I've heard "Cocaine Blues" is, IIRC, but I have a list of songs I'd love to hear.