The career of Johnny Cash is played out on the big screen in James Mangold’s Walk the Line, which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Mr. Cash. The film does not encompass all of Mr. Cash’s life, but rather deals with his the very early stages of his career: from wannabe singer to a rising alcoholic crooner and finally to his achieving the superstardom he so desired. Even though we are only privy to hearing about only the first 30-plus years of his life, it’s safe to say that that is more than enough given the life Mr. Cash had led up until that point.

Phoenix’s stellar performance is only rivaled by that of his costar, Reese Witherspoon. Reese portrays the late June Carter-Cash, a legendary singer in her own right and Johnny’s eternal love. She seemed to have really put herself into the role June; she looks, talks, and acts like just like her.

Phoenix and Witherspoon’s performances are accompanied by a vast array of minor characters, which include Johnny’s first wife Vivian, played by Ginnifer Goodwin, and musicians Jerry Lee Lewis, who is portrayed hysterically by Waylon Payne, Elvis Presley, played by Tyler Hilton, and Waylon Jennings, played by his son, Shooter.

Walk the Line is not like your average biopic. There are very few, if any, “fabricated” and made up instances in this film. That is what makes it so wonderful. I’m sure that if you are a Johnny Cash fan, you were seeing this movie on opening night. If you’re not a Johnny Cash fan and you want to see a good film, Walk the Line is for you.