Walk the Line

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Walk the Line ★★★½ 2005 (PG-13)

Phoenix embodies The Man in Black, warts and all in this excellent biopic showing Johnny Cash's family strife, rise as an early 50s rock star, through his battle with drugs, and his long courtship of June Carter (an equally brilliant Wither-spoon). Script and actors never shy away from the more disturbing aspects of Cash's personality and life, which makes for a powerful, if not always comfortable, film. Phoenix and Witherspoon did all their own singing, and they do it well enough to make you wonder if it's the real thing. 135m/C DVD . US Joaquin Rafael (Leaf) Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick, Dallas Roberts, Larry Bagby, Dan John Miller, Shelby Lynne, Tyler Hilton, Waylon Malloy Payne, Shooter Jennings; D: James Mangold; W: James Mangold, Gill Dennis; C: Phedon Papamichael; M: T-Bone Burnett. Oscars ‘05: Actress (Witherspoon); British Acad. ‘05: Actress (Witherspoon), Sound; Golden Globes ‘06: Actor—Mus./ Comedy (Phoenix), Actress—Mus./Comedy (Witherspoon), Film—Mus./Comedy; N.Y. Film Critics ‘05: Actress (Witherspoon); Natl. Soc. Film Critics ‘05: Actress (Witherspoon); Screen Actors Guild ‘05: Actress (Witherspoon).