I did. And although I expected to be just a little disappointed in the casting choices, I must confess I was completely impressed by the time the end credits rolled.

Joquin Phoenix pulled an amazingly correct portrayal of Johnny Cash right out of his cute little ass and worked it to the last twitch.

Reese Witherspoon was able to capture the charm and energy of June Carter so well that you wanted to reach up, grab her off the screen, put her in your pocket and carry her around with you.

The musical numbers are enough to make a Cash fan out of confirmed hillbilly music haters. The man was a bad-ass when he was battling his addictions, and he was an even bigger bad-ass once he won the fight against his demons.

The costumes were great - June's dresses were the right balance of kitsch and grace, and Johnny's clothes were 100% him, right down to the high-waisted pants and the padding Phoenix had to wear around his middle and butt.

The supporting cast was fabulous, too - Shelby Lynne played Johnny's mother in a small but surprising appearance (surprising for those of us who didn't know she acted, anyway); the actors who played Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and the other musicians of the era were completely believable and not at all distracting.

I'd put this film on par with "Ray", though I'd say "Walk The Line" takes less time to get to the point. It's a lean, fast-moving, energetic film that limits a music legend's life to his most dynamic, formative and volatile years. If you don't like Johnny Cash because you're one of those people who "hate country music", this is a movie you need to see. Johnny Cash is beyond the label of "country & western", and this film drives that fact home.

If you love or even like Cash...why haven't you seen this yet? You will adore this film.

Cash was a bad mutha fucka,plain and simple

I’m planning to see it soon. I’m a casual fan, been listening to Cash since I was a wee little lass on my father’s knee. Walk the Line was one of the songs my dad would play on his guitar and my whole family would sit around and sing, along with the Beatles and Buddy Holly.

I admit, I’m a bit worried about Reese as June. Not that I don’t like her, just that her vocal tone and mannerisms are SO distinct, I’m just not sure how that’ll translate. But I’m willing to give her a shot. lol

I’m excited to see it, though!

TheRealFiness said:

He's more America than apple pie.

Anxiety said:

well yeah, but its just the fact he was just un fuckin touchable,u know?.. he was like a "made guy" and he let u know he couldnt be fucked with.Cash was just a Outlaw till the end man.

I can't wait to see this. I saw Harry Potter instead this weekend...which I was equally as excited about.

CarrieMpls said:

believe it or not, she really pulls off june's throaty singing voice...and it looks like reese even had an autoharp lesson or two.

I so want to see this one.....guess I'll have to wait a couple of months!!!

TheRealFiness said:

i think it was because he was as good as he was bad. he was a "true" christian in the purest sense of the word. he loved his enemies and he represented the outcasts of society, but he strived to live a righteous life while rebelling against what he saw as hypocrisy...which he did with intelligence, humility and a good sense of humor. we don't get many people like him in the world.

Anxiety said:

i believe it,as much as he loved god he loved a good barfight with a shot of whiskey

TheRealFiness said:

till june calmed him down and made an honest man of him, anyway.

Really looking forward to seeing this.

My parents love Johnny Cash - some of my earliest memories are of listening to him in the car: 'Daddy Sang Bass', 'One Piece At A Time'.

And, of course, it's got Joaquin Phoenix in it.

What eras does it cover, Anxiety?

onenitealone said:

from his childhood up through his engagement to june carter...though the childhood part is pretty brief. pretty much the '50s and '60s.

Anxiety said:

Cool - gotta see this and 'Ray' as well, in fact.

I was hoping to see this last night with my boy, but plans didn't go through. I will see it this week definitely, I loooove Johnny Cash, always have always will.

Anxiety said:

I think I'm pretty much done with fictional film (except for the odd exception). If I wanted to know more about Johnny, I'd watch a documentary. And I don't understand the choice to have the actors perform the music.

Cash was a good songwriter - I particularly like "Give My Love to Rose" - but I've got to say I don't understand the deification of the man.

Ace said:

Read his autobiography and you'll get it. Not just because you'll understand his life and his "philosophy", but you'll understand his way of looking at music - lots of people talk about keeping music real and honest, and lots of people talk about breaking down labels and barriers - Cash actually talked about it and did something about it.

Can't wait to see it

Smooches;)

Anxiety said:

Oh, I've read quite a bit about the man over the years. I think, as popular figures go, he was an interesting one, but all of our motivations are complex (see the quote below). Personally, I find the autobiography to be one of least reliable means of getting a true picture of someone. As the old saying goes, "Consider the source".


- Bruce Springsteen, 1992.

Ace said:[quote]

Anxiety said:

That's all fine and well, but it means diddly squat since you haven't read the book or at least seen the film.

Anxiety said:

Well, maybe I'll check-out the book, but I can't envision myself seeing the flick. With few exceptions, that whole "scripted" thing just doesn't do it for me anymore.

I was going to, but I saw Harry Potter instead.
I'll probably go next weekend, but my problem is finding someone to go with. All my 14-16 year old friends have no idea who Johnny Cash is. I'll just go by myself.