The comparisons between "Ray" with Jamie Foxx and "Walk the Line" with Joaquin Pheonix are out. So striking that the stories of both musicians growing up in the south, from a child who loves music, his brother, his parent, making it in music biz, drugs, wives, the road, groupies, cheating, a mistress, kids, seem to be common for growing stars in the 50's and 60's trying to balance stardom and a normal Christian life.
So, yes, let us compare.
So since both stories are similar and both were delivered in relatively the same manner, I'd say that "Walk the Line" wins out slightly. Why? "Ray" seemed to drag in places, where "Walk the Line" was more to the point, much like Johnny Cash's style.
And "Ray" did very well, as did Jamie Foxx. I expect a bit more success for "Walk".
Jamie Foxx really looked like acted and sounded like Ray Charles, as he did some method acting of being blind to get into the role and hung out with Ray himself.
But did the plot and dialogue carry Foxx's portrayal? Don't get me wrong, Foxx did an amazing job, but now in comparison to Phoenix, I can now see the difference and slight lack on Foxx's part. Slight. But I wish to emphasize that slight made a big difference.
Johnny Cash fully endorsed Joaquin Phoenix's typecasting. Phoenix, in my opinion, is an underrated actor. Not anymore.
I especially wondered if Phoenix poured his own soul and life into the role. He could honestly relate to Cash's life, as he too lost a dear brother to an accident and continually suffers from drug addiction. Now THAT's method acting--when your own life is similar to the person you're portraying. And I believe that aspect, coupled with Phoenix's many talents, gave him a slight edge over Foxx.
The camera production was excellent. When Johnny was drunk and on pills, you could FEEL it and relate to the character as the camera gave you first person view of the blur he felt. Yes, I know, can't really do that with a blind guy. But why not? Why didn't they black out the screen and only have sounds? Instead they went with flashbacks to Ray's childhood as the underlying theme.
You won't find flashbacks in "Walk" and I think it was more effective. Johnny seemed to lock up that pain of his brother dying and his drunken father telling him "the wrong kid died" way way down for a long long time, until decades later when it finally comes out at the Thanksgiving dinner table. But was it yelling? No. You could hear that pain and anger in his voice and see in his eyes.
This is a story about being saved. I didn't get that feel as much from watching "Ray".
Johnny needed saving. He loved his older brother, who was destined to be a preacher, as his best friend and companion. But no matter how successful he got, nothing was good enough for his father. The music that came out of his voice reflected that lament and suffering. He so badly wanted forgiveness. And early on in the tour with Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, etc. he met June Carter and realized right there that she understood him like no one else.
So Big kudos to Reeses Pieces Witherspoon for an outstanding performance. Absolutely spot on to June Carter, a strong talented witty woman who saw that special something in Johnny and even after 40 marriage proposals (although he was still married!), dressing room trashing, spending time in jail for drugs, we know she finally says yes.
But before that, when her career wasn't taking off, she married a stock car driver but that relationship wasn't doing well. Johnny and her hadn't seen each other in a while until a music awards ceremony. He asks her to join his tour and says he'll provide for her no matter what. This was the first time Johnny truly offered anything to June and was a big turning point in their unusual relationship.
But while Johnny turned to other substitutes for salvation, he always knew June was the one. It was June and her parents who ultimately saved him from drugs by fending off dealers with double barrel shotguns from his lake side country home. He finally recovers and they get married. While not shown, you can tell his father is finally proud of him.
Phoenix's true and real method acting got to the core and soul of the character so much that I could really feel the emotion and relate it to my own life. And this made me understand Johnny Cash the man.
The only wish I had for the movie was showing more interaction with the other big stars of the 50's, like Elvis. There were a couple scenes, but Johnny's focus was always on June.
Snaky gives "Walk the Line", 4.12 fists out of 5.
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