I was really bummed at not getting to see this movie on the big screen, but that’s a long story that involves baby sitters, so I won’t bore you with the detail.

Needless to say, it was with much anticipation that I watched the DVD release. In fact so much so, that we rented it out on the day of release. I can’t remember the last time I did that, so my expectations were high. And it did not disappoint.

Brilliantly written, Walk the Line is a story about redemption–a man who gets a second chance at life, despite making an absolute mess at his first go at it. Burdened by the death of his younger brother at an early age and a less than happy relationship with his father, Johnnie ends up going off the rails and turns into a “pill-poppin’ rock star”. If it were not for Cash’s deep love for June Carter, and her courage and strength to help Johnnie face his problems, the Johnnie Cash story may have ended entirely differently.

If you are expecting an ‘autobiography’, you may be disappointed. Cleverly, the writers have selected a ’segement’ of Cash’s life and long music career to craft an inspiring and amazing story. Both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, as Johnnie Cash and June Carter respectively, are totally believable and convincing and are deserving of the praise that have been placed on them for their work.

I’m going to go as far as saying that this one of–if not THE–best movie I’ve seen in the last couple of years.