Blackbird

Review by Vives Anunciacion

Walk the Line
Directed by James Mangold
Written by James Mangold, Gill Dennis
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon
PG13/ 136 minutes
20th Century Fox

Tinawag siyang man in black dahil simulat’t sapul naka-itim siya na suit kapag nagperform sa harap ng audience. Si Johnny Cash ang pangunahing country/western singer ng Amerika sa loob ng limang dekada. Walk the Line is a resounding tribute to the legendary performer who sang the country blues.

Ang Walk the Line ay tungkol sa sikat na country/western singer na nagsikap makaahon mula sa pinanggalingang cotton farm sa Arkansas hanggang maging matagumpay na performer kasabay nina Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis at Carl Perkins.

The talented Joaquin Phoenix (previously seen in Hotel Rwanda and The Village) gives an impassioned performance as the legendary singer dressed in black, Johhny Cash. Reese Witherspoon plays country crooner and comedienne June Carter, who becomes the object of Cash’s deep affection.

Ang pelikula ay pinaigsing salaysay ng makulay na buhay ni Cash mula sa kahirapan ng Depression Era 1930s sa Arkansas hanggang sa makasaysayang konsiyerto niya sa Folsom Prison noong 1968. Ipapakita rito ang maagang pagkamatay ng nakatatandang kapatid na si Jack na magkakaroon ng malaking epekto sa paglaki ni Johnny.

In 1955 at the age of 23 kasama ng dalawang kaibigan, nag-audition si Johnny kay Sam Phillips, may-ari ng Sun Records Studio sa Memphis kung saan nirecord ni Elvis Presley ng kaniyang debut single na “That’s All Right” isang taon ang nakalipas. Hindi nagustuhan ni Phillips ang audition ni Johnny at sinabihan itong umuwi. Naglakas-loob si Johnny at kumanta ng orihinal na kanta. Ang kinalabasan ay ang “Cry, Cry, Cry” na nag-debut sa country charts ng Billboard sa #14.

Kinaibigan siya nina Elvis at ng iba pang recording artist at napabilang sa promotional tour ng mga banda. Doon niya makikilala ang singer na si June Carter, na matagal nang hinahangaan at pinakikingggan ni Johnny noong bata pa lang siya. Johnny is instantly enamoured with June, at hindi tinago ang pagtangi nito kay June kahit na may asawa’t anak na si Johnny.

Most of the movie is about how Johnny rose to fame while trying at the same time to raise an unappreciative family and letting June understand his appreciation of her. In the end his music, his love and his soul triumph, which is why he is an American legend.

The movie is a quaint tribute to the legendary performers of American country and rock music, but suffers unintentionally as a historical pop-culture narrative. Hindi masyado makaka-relate ang mga Pinoy viewers sa kasikatan ni Mr. Cash maliban na lang yung henerasyon na sumubaybay sa kaniya at sa mga kasabay nitong naglalakihang performers. Maliban dito, halos isang karaniwang dramatic biography lang ang Walk the Line tulad ng Ray o kaya ng The Aviator na pinapakita ang pagsisikap, trahedya at pag-ahon ng isang historical figure, lalu na ng mga rock star na halos pare-pareho ang pinagdaanang pagsubok. Manipis ang build-up ng love story sa pagitan nina Johnny at June, parang taken for granted na lang dahil alam na ng karamihan na nagkatuluyan sila. Pero pwede ring hindi na pinalalim ang masalimuot na isyu ng pag-iibigan ng dalawa sa kabila ng pagiging kasal nila sa ibang tao dahil ito’y isyung moral na maaaring magparumi sa imahen ng mga singer na binibida ng pelikula.

But there are gems within the story of Walk the Line and in the strong performances coming from Phoenix and Witherspoon who both shine as struggling artists and lovers in the time when the legends of rock still roamed the earth. Walk the Line is an entertaining musical that derives strength from the stellar performances of its leads, but more so because the legend behind the movie is bigger than the movie itself.