Top 10 of 2005: #6

Walk the Line dir. James Mangold

Johnny Cash's "Hurt" is one of my favourite songs of all time. Hearing his voice sing that song when he's well into old age is inspiring and amazing to listen to. I felt the same way as I listened to Joaquin Phoenix sing Cash's songs in Walk the Line. You just close your eyes, and you feel like you're listening to Johnny Cash, not Joaquin Phoenix. That's what makes Joaquin Phoenix's performance in Walk the Line, excellent. Sure he doesn't look like Johnny Cash, but he sure does feel like Johnny Cash. The voice, the facial expressions and did I mention the voice? are identical to Cash's. James Mangold has crafted the perfect picture about Johnny Cash, his drug addiction and his relationship with June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). I doubt anyone will try to create another movie about Johnny Cash because this one is so masterful. As I said up above, Joaquin Phoenix feels like Johnny Cash. It's an amazing performance and I think it is the performance of Phoenix's career. He embodies Johnny Cash with everything he has and becomes him. Robert Patrick turns in a somewhat frightening performance as Johnny's father. Whenever he's on seen, we sense a feel of worry coming and that is what make Patrick's performance memorable. Ginnifer Goodwin turns in the performance of her career as Vivian Cash, Johnny's first wife. Her last scenes in particular are heartbreaking. However, I have saved the best performance for last. Reese Witherspoon is a REVELATION as June Carter. Not only is it the performance of her career, I think it is hands down the best performance of 2005. Witherspoon embodies June with all of her soul, charm and humor. She sings amazingly well too. All of her scenes feel extremely authentic, while some of them are absoutely heart wrenching. Mangold has shown promise before (Girl, Interrupted) but here is where he shows what a master film maker he is. Walk the Line is one of the best movies of 2005.