MUSIC/LATEST FILMS: CASH ON THE NAIL

WALK THE LINE (12A)

THE STARS Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Shelby Lynne.

THE STORY The life of country music legend Johnny Cash (Phoenix), tracing his childhood on an Arkansas cotton farm, his rise to fame with Memphis-based Sun Records - where he recorded with the likes of Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis (played by Waylon Payne, inset below) - and his growing addiction to drink and drugs. Salvation comes through his love for singer June Carter (Witherspoon), his second wife.

WHAT'S GOOD? This is a fascinating, compulsive journey through music history, impressively staged and full of rich, memorable performances. Joaquin Phoenix makes a pretty good stab at playing the Man in Black and we get fine renditions of some of Cash's classic songs, but best of all are the women in this movie.

Perhaps the showiest - and likely to win her an Oscar - is Witherspoon as June Carter, who is in love with Cash but unwilling to respond to him until he rids himself of his demons.

Equally fine, though, is Memphis girl Goodwin as Cash's first wife Vivian. Hers is a thankless yet emotionally charged role, as the wife who wrangles the kids while her singer hubby tackles the booze, drugs and groupies, and Goodwin is terrific.

Scenes of Cash on the road with Presley and Lewis are very enjoyable and though we get the expected clichs along the way, the powerful final scenes of Cash playing to the convicts at Folsom Prison are well worth the journey.

WHAT'S BAD? Though it is maybe an unfair comparison, Walk The Line is just not as good as last year's Oscar-winning music biopic Ray.

The same plot points are ticked off in a matter-of-fact way (tough childhood, under-appreciated as a musician in the early days, drugs, women, booze, God etc).

But, unlike Ray, there is never a real understanding of where Johnny Cash "found" his so-distinctive sound - except to say rather simplistically it was while he was in the Army.

Praise is being heaped on Phoenix, but I found him less than convincing, never really capturing the voice or charisma of Cash.

It is a film, though, that makes you want to rush out and buy that Best of Johnny Cash album!

HOW LONG IS IT? An outstanding 137 mins.

FINAL VERDICT Brilliant music biopic hits all the right notes.

Opens Friday, February 3

POPCORN RATING

Yee-hah!

Twangtastic

Big country

Second fiddle

Gone Western

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