May 16, 2012
Walk the Line
I recently have watched the movie Walk the Line,(one of my favorite movies of all time) a film based on the discovery of Mr. Johnny Cash's career as a country singer. In this film there are different film techniques and many many juxtapositions. Johnny Cash was raised on an Arkansas cotton farm with a mother who was strictly religious, a gospel singer. This movie in fact is a juxtaposition because Johnny Cash grew up singing gospel music and wanted to pursue a career singing gospel but record companies didn't want that. Johnny Cash then chose to turn against his religion more or less and sing songs that were seen as shameful and sinful in the gospel eye. Johnny Cash sang about things that were not accepted nor talked about in his day and age, singing alongside some of the worlds most notorious trend setters such as Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. While in the music career Cash began to pick up the habit of cheating on his wife, infidelity,drinking alcohol as well as doing prescription drugs that he later was arrested for. This shows a juxtaposition a young christian boy taught to never sin and obey the lord has in fact commitment multiple sins. As a result of Cashes behavior his wife soon left him as well as his children, on tour Cash fell deep in love with June Carter whom herself has had relationship problems due to her career choice. Cash has driven his family away due to his action and his strive to be with June Carter. In the ending scenes when Johnny Cash was with June after prospering to her multiple times he had started a family with her; after abandoning his own family that he had with his first wife, Cash seems more happy with June then with his first wife. Its a juxtaposition because in the end Cash turns back into the young Christan boy not committing any sins, staying faithful and providing for his family.
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Walk the Line is also one of my favorite movies. Johnny Cash is one of my favorite singers and I think that this movie portrayed his life story well. It was nice to see that someone could go against their parents to pursue a career that was right for them. Something that I enjoy about this movie is the beginning and ending of the movie. They are the same but you do not realize it until the very end of the movie and then you understand what is going on. It starts off will feet pounding and Johnny starting at a glass of water. You then see a match cut at the end of the film to him at that same place doing the same thing. He is about to perform for prisoners and that is what is going on in that scene. I also think that they do one montage very well. It is when he is getting himself off of drugs. You see the progression of him getting better, which takes several months and it is shown in about a one minute montage. Also if you know Johnny cash music, you know why he wears the color black all the time. He wears it to symbolize all the hatred in the world and all the destruction going on.
ReplyDeleteWalk the Line is one my favorite movies also. I agree Johnny Cash's life and career was very well portrayed in this film.I also agree the entire movie is a juxtaposition of his family morals and behavior throughout his life. As a boy, he was raised with religion and sang in the choir. He soon learned that record labels were not looking for gospel singers, and rather looking for rock n roll music. Johnny disobeying his parents and religious upbringing, did sing about sinful and risky things. His songs like many others, were highly criticized and shameful to the Christian community. People protested the music, claiming it was Satanic. The movie shows the controversal era very well. The filming almost makes it suspenseful, with montages and flashbacks. The music in my opinion, really makes the movie. His intensity and rebellious behavior on stage is fun. His songs have soul and a voice to them unlike music today. As his life spiriled downward with drugs, you can see firsthand the damages to his music and physical apperance. Close ups of him high show the pain he is hiding in his face. Cash lost his temper and morals, abandoning his wife and family for June. This is what his parents were afraid of. In the end, Johnny cleans up and realizes what he lost. He regains trust from his family and parents in the end.
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