Walk the Line
First screened in December 2005 / Most recently screened in May 2007
Director: James Mangold. Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Patrick, Shelby Lynne, Ginnifer Goodwin, Dallas Roberts, Dan John Miller, Larry Bagby, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Dan Beene, Waylon Payne, Tyler Hilton, Shooter Jennings. Screenplay: Gill Dennis and James Mangold (based on the books The Man in Black by Johnny Cash and Cash: An Autobiography by Johnny Cash and Patrick Carr).

Twitter Capsule: Stars good, but maybe not as good as you've heard. Narrative momentum a real problem. You learn more from the albums.

VOR:   The actors' craft and some handsome execution can't disguise how conventional this is. Were Johnny Cash and Ray Charles really the same person?



Photo © 2005 Fox 2000 Pictures

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: C


Academy Award Nominations and Winners:
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon
Best Actor: Joaquin Phoenix
Best Costume Design: Arianne Phillips
Best Film Editing: Michael McCusker
Best Sound: Paul Massey, Doug Hemphill, and Peter F. Kurland

Golden Globe Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture (Musical/Comedy)
Best Actress (Musical/Comedy): Reese Witherspoon
Best Actor (Musical/Comedy): Joaquin Phoenix

Other Awards:
Screen Actors Guild Awards: Best Actress (Witherspoon)
New York Film Critics Circle: Best Actress (Witherspoon)
National Society of Film Critics: Best Actress (Witherspoon)
Boston Society of Film Critics: Best Actress (Witherspoon)
British Academy Awards (BAFTAs): Best Actress (Witherspoon); Best Sound
Satellite Awards: Best Picture, Musical/Comedy; Best Actress, Musical/Comedy (Witherspoon)

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