Sunday 29 November 2015

Walk the Line (2005 James Mangold)

So, the long anticipated Walk the Line - not a very cinematic or interesting film, best perhaps when it's tightly showing Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon on stage. Weirdly the film to me doesn't really seem to come alive until the last twenty minutes (the performance in jail, followed by their last duet where he proposes). I love Reese, but I'm not sure her performance was Oscar-worthy (she was up against Judi Dench in Mrs Henderson Presents, Felicity Huffman in Transamerica and Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice); in fact I'd have to particularly praise Ginnifer Goodwin as the first Mrs Cash.

Didn't find Michael McCusker's nominated editing that exciting either, nor Phedon Papamichael's widescreen cinematography, so all in all it was a bit of a disappointment. Also the sound is mixed so badly that you can't hear what Joaquin is mumbling / whispering, then the music hits you like a force ten quail.

It also seemed to go on for ever.

The sign visible at an early concert - "Ring in Case of Fire" - is I guess a little subtle reference.

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