Walk the Line: 2005

Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon

Director: James Mangold

Walk the Line tells the story of Johhny Cash’s rise to music fame, going way back to his youth, dealing with his time in the army in Germany, his tumultuous marriage to his first wife, Vivian, and his struggles with drugs and alcohol. Mostly, though, it is the story of his love for June Carter, a gospel singer he had loved since he was a boy listening to the radio.

The film is a good biopic, but sadly it reminded me too much of the also-great Ray, the Ray Charles story, with Jamie Foxx. In both cases, we see a revered singer-songwriter struggle with fame and addiction. We also see their redemption at the end (if I can call it that), but it is truly sad to see anybody fall into that trap, and lose half their lives trying to crawl out of it again.

But I digress, and I haven’t even begun.

In Walk the Line there are two rebukes delivered, one to Johhny himself (played very well by Joaquin Phoenix), and one to June Carter (played by Reese Witherspoon). Each rebuke was in its own way directed at the Christian message, and both of them were a bit stunning and memorable for me.

In the first, John and his little trio are trying to cut their first record for producer Sam Phillips, and they have chosen to play a gospel tune that was popular at the time. After they had played the song – a little dismally it must be admitted – Phillips (played by a suitably snarky Dallas Robert) asks them if they have anything else. When John asks him what he means, Philiips replies, “You know exactly what I’m telling you. We’ve already heard that song a hundred times. Just like that. Just… like… how… you… sing it.”

 Cash is taken aback by that, and says that Phillips didn’t let them “bring it home.”

Phillips’ rebuttal is quick and unforgettable: “Bring… bring it home? All right, let’s bring it home. If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing one song. Huh? One song that people would remember before you’re dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin’ me that’s the song you’d sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it’s real, and how you’re gonna shout it? Or… would you sing somethin’ different. Somethin’ real. Somethin’ you felt. Cause I’m telling you right now, that’s the kind of song people want to hear. That’s the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain’t got nothin to do with believin’ in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believin’ in yourself.”

Say what you want about Phillips’ theology, he delivers his beliefs with grim conviction, and in the end Cash believes him too. Through Phillips’ rebuke he is able to find his true voice, and begin singing his story the way he knows it should be sung. For me, that is the power and the glory of this scene, and the lesson I take away from it.

The other rebuke, delivered to June Carter by a Five and Dime manageress, comes as a result of Carter’s recent divorce from her race car husband. “Divorce is an abomination; marriage is for life,” Carter is told by the righteous woman.

June is chastised but not cast down. She quietly says, “I’m sorry I let you down, ma’am.” She has been here before, and knows what is expected of her. Of course, she is also fully aware of what God thinks of divorce and marriage, and all of that, in this case, is beside the point. She does not need to be told the painfully obvious truth by someone she does not know.

As I thought about this scene, I was just sad. Saddened by the fact that this actually happened. Sad that the divorce had to happen. Sad for the tragic circumstances that brought it about. Sad that this busybody manageress felt compelled to intrude into the life of a perfect stranger.

I think the Christian religion – even as a religion – is one the most wonderful things, bringing great good into the world. But these two scenes remind that even it – and I – earn a good rebuke time and again, and it is good to heed it.