Joaquin and Reese Walk The Line.
By Simon Thompson

Trying to document the life of an icon is one of the hardest things to do in film.
From whichever direction you approach it there’s bound to be someone, somewhere, that thinks you either missed out a key moment or distorted a truth as they see it.
However, the team behind Johnny Cash biopic ‘Walk The Line’ have managed to navigate that minefield with aplomb.
Cash and his second wife June Carter died within months of each other in 2003 - so sadly never got to the see the finished film. However, their presence permeates the movie.
Before filming started, director James Mangold managed to get lead actor, Joaquin Phoenix, to spend time with the couple so that he could have first hand experience of the Cash phenomena.
The 31-year-old said: “We all had dinner. There were about six to eight people and it was all family. And John and June were just wonderful and unpretentious and welcoming. So we had dinner and then we went to the living room.
“Everyone just kind of naturally migrated into the living room and then John just picked up a guitar. That was his kind of small talk, instead of like sitting around after dinner and talking about the weather or sports or something.
“It was an amazing experience. Something I will never, ever, ever forget.”
Joaquin added: “I don’t know how that happened. It had such a profound impact on the way that I saw John and June and their relationship. To see them looking into each other’s eyes while they sang together was magical. I referred to that moment many times throughout shooting.”
The film follows Cash’s early life in Arkansas, the trauma of his older brother’s death, the difficult relationship he had with his father, and cutting his first record in Memphis.
‘Walk The Line’ refuses to draw a veil over the darker parts of Cash’s legacy – including the breakdown of his first marriage, his growing attraction to singer June Carter and his eventual slide to alcohol and drug problems.
However, unlike last years Ray Charles biopic ‘Ray’, the film ends before the issues of retribution and recovery are covered off.
Another area the film tackles head on is Johnny finding religion.
His son, John Carter Cash – who was executive producer on the movie – said that’s a crucial part of who his father was and couldn’t be ignored.
He said: “It becomes evident early in the film how my dad wanted to have faith in the Gospel. But the major focus in the film is their love affair. It's not really a film about their faith. The point where the film stops off is the point where my father truly begins to seek out Christianity.
“The point where he started is where the film ends. My parents' main goal was to have a movie about their life, and how their love helped them come together. I believe we've done that.”
It’s something that the 35-year-old can identify with on a personal level.
John explained: “I think early on in life maybe, as so many people do, I rebelled against one thing or another - whether it be music, whether it be the freedom that comes from the relationship with God. I had to go through my own struggles to find my relationship with God.
He added: “Sometimes, you find peace through misery. Having said that, what's most important for me to do now is to keep my peace.”
Reece Witherspoon plays June - a role that she felt particularly close to as, growing up in Tennessee, the Cash phenomena was part of life.
However, that fact in itself meant peoples expectations of her were high – and as someone who is best known for ‘fluffy’ roles – it was a risk.
She admitted: “Coming from Nashville, I knew a lot about the Carter family, which is sort of the foremost family of country music. It was very daunting.
“I was very nervous but I sat down with a couple of her children and just said, ‘I want you to know that I’m just trying my best to honour your mother.’ And that really helps because they were really helpful and supportive.”
Reese added: “I just tried to be the best version of what I could be, because it was impossible to emulate her. And I’m sure on Joaquin’s part it was pretty difficult to emulate Johnny Cash. But we trained for five and a half months and learned to play instruments, record an album, and worked six or seven hours every day for five months on it. So you can’t say we didn’t try.”
Having immersed themselves so whole heartedly in the lives of Johnny and June, it seems inevitable that some of their lives will stay with Joaquin and Reese forever.
The ‘Gladiator’ actor revealed: “I like music. I’ve always liked music but no, I won’t be recording anything. I’ll do stuff for myself now that I have a great understanding.”
Despite a respectable box office take and widespread critical acclaim, it’s not the brilliant acting that stays with you long after the credits role – it’s the music.
That’s something Joaquin is happy to play second fiddle to.
He said: “The power of Johnny’s music is the real sense of intimacy. You always feel like you’re right there in the room with him.
“Even at the height of his fame, he would still play shows in the back of a pick-up truck and s**t. You know what I mean? It’s amazing and we don’t see that anymore.”
‘Walk The Line’ is an inspirational story about a man struggling everyday, fighting his demons, winning some battles and losing others that will haunt and inspire film fans for years - much like the man himself.
He may be dead, but Johnny Cash will never be forgotten.