I caught this movie this afternoon and was completely blown away. I had very high expectations and they were more than met. I'm sure you've all heard that the vocals were all done by Joaquin Phoenix and Reece Witherspoon--and they are amazing--but what struck me was the power of their acting performances. At one point in the movie Sam Phillips tells a gospel-singing Johnny that he doesn't sing like believes what he's saying; Phoenix not only believes he is Cash, he becomes him, and made me feel as if I was living through his eyes. I felt his insecurities, his pain, his pride and his love. See this flick!

Very good movie.

It is too bad that Harry Potter trash had to come out the same weekend, the theatre was so full it really tiked me off.

Planning on catching it sometime this week! Can't wait.

Cher

Finally got to see it last night. While I found it enjoyable, I also found it slow in the beginning. The performances were very good, but I thought the portrayal of Johnny's first wife a little harsh. All in all a pretty good movie.

Cher

We went to see it last night but got shut out. By the time we reached the theater, it was full. So.... We saw the new Harry Potter. I was originally disappointed in the switch, but HP was a great movie! I still can't wait to see Walk the Line though...

looking forward to seeing this one, after all i've heard about it!

[quote=LazyAsSin,Nov 20 2005, 06:34 PM]
. . .was completely blown away. I had very high expectations and they were more than met.




I totally agree. I was especially impressed by Reese Witherspoon, of whom I was not previously a fan. Truly amazing performances! These actors are truly top notch. Highly recommend!

When I withdraw a bit from my amazement, however, I have some hesitation about the infidelity issue and the portrayal of June, the focus of his marital discrepencies, to be his saviour. I'm pretty sure Mr. Cash would have placed her second to God in the saving category. But I guess that doesn't sell as many tickets . . .

[quote=socwriter,Dec 1 2005, 12:28 PM][quote=LazyAsSin,Nov 20 2005, 06:34 PM]
. . .was completely blown away. I had very high expectations and they were more than met.




I totally agree. I was especially impressed by Reese Witherspoon, of whom I was not previously a fan. Truly amazing performances! These actors Highly recommend!

When I withdraw a bit from my amazement, however, I have some hesitation about the infidelity issue and the portrayal of June, the focus of his marital discrepencies, to be his saviour. I'm pretty sure Mr. Cash would have placed her second to God in the saving category. But I guess that doesn't sell as many tickets . . .
[/quote]


I was definitely impressed with Joaquin Phoenix' performance in the movie. He's been highly underrated for far too long. I'm not quite sure whether JCCash was the Barbie doll that she was portrayed as, then again I remember an older, wiser version of JCC. As far as JCC vs. God, can't God act through human intermediaries??

Oh, yes - I do believe God works through people all the time, and I'm sure that happened in this story. I thought it was beautiful, how they showed it. In fact, it was my date that really got me thinking about the infidelity and spiritual issues ( it ruined the movie for him). And it got me thinking to how Johnny Cash would so readily credit God later in his life. He told the movie makers to do what they wanted with him (as long as they had someone play him who didn't hold the guitar like a sissy) but asked that they not hurt his loved ones. He'd come to terms with his screw-ups, but wanted them protected as much as possible.

I'm a fairly new fan, and don't have too many memories of Johnny and June from when I was younger, but I do remember her having a quality much different than the movie version of herself. I can't quite put my finger on the words to describe it . . .

And I TOTALLY agree about Joaquin Phoenix being underrated. He is exceptional. But I went into this movie already having that opinion, so it didn't surprise me quite as much as Reese Witherspoon. My opinion of her just kicked up several notches (even if she was a bit on the barbie/pixie side).

-Beth

ps- does anyone else remember Johnny & June being on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman?

Karen and I just saw this and we both enjoyed it. I thought the film was very engaging, but it didn't quite bowl me over the way Ray did. It's hard for me to judge the non-musical aspects of Joaquin Phoenix's performance, since I didn't know much at all about Johnny Cash in his early years (I felt a lot less sympathetic toward him as portrayed than June did), but he did manage to capture his unique vocal style reasonably well. I've thought very highly of Reese Witherspoon's abilities since her performance in The Man in the Moon at age 15 totally blew me away, although she's taken on mostly lightweight roles in her career. I thought she did a very good job with her role but didn't capture June's singing style all that well (I'm not sure anyone could).

I really wanted to stay at the Cineplex to see Aeon Flux, but Karen couldn't be persuaded.

Reese's cornball accent did bother me a bit, but then again, most cornball accents do. Still don't remember JCC being quite that way, but it has been years.

Dude I'll see Aeon Flux with you if you are down in DC anytime soon. Been wanting to watch that one myself.

I will have to catch this SooN

Finally saw this last week and I LOVED it!!! It may very well end up being my favorite movie of the year. Reese Witherspoon did an amazing job (she got the role of a lifetime) and the storyline was heartbreaking on many different levels. I was completely wrapped up in it from beginning to end. I want to run out and buy Johnny Cash records and I really have not been into him (except for his last album) up until now.