Aaron\’s blog

Aaron Bruss

4/19/07

Section 09

                                                                    Can you Walk the Line? 

            Johnny Cash, the man in black, was an icon in the world during the 1950’s, 60’s and even today.  His catchy lyrics and well written songs have entertained people for the past half century.  Mr. Cash lived the rockstar life style to its fullest.  He battled drug addictions, stayed up late partying with buddies from his band and had trouble keeping his ladies in line.  The movie, Walk the Line, is a story of the man in black’s life from including his battles with addictions while trying to raise a developing family.           

     One of the main problems that Johnny has to deal with everyday is that he is a drug addict.  The movie shows the different phases of his addiction and how he dealt with each of them.  He starts as a social user just at parties or with his friends but he soon turns into an all out addict.  First thing in the morning he wakes up and he needs his pills just to make it through the day.  Slowly he creeps away from reality hurting a lot of his friends and family while also jeopardizing his career.  Until he finally hits his brick wall and needs his closest friends to help him save his life.           

    This movie also shows the problems that developing families can have.  In the beginning John begs his future ex-wife to wait for him until he gets back from war.  She waits for him and when he gets home from overseas they have a little girl.  He is a great father at first and loves his wife very much.  When John’s daughter is still very young his song, “Folsom Prison”, hits it big and John is immediately a star.  He falls in love with one of his female peers on tour, June Carter.  From the beginning he can’t keep his eyes off of her but she does not have mutual feelings because of his wife.  His attraction to June ultimately destroys his marriage and pulls his family apart.           

   A lot of people may feel that a movie about sex, drugs and rock & roll does not promote good life values.  This movie succeeded in doing both.  Even though Johnny had many problems he still pulled through to end up having a successful career.  He did need the help of close friends to help him along his path.  After a divorce from his first wife he remained a loving father to his daughter and ended up staying married to June until they both died.           

    One of the main reasons to see this movie is the music.  Johnny Cash has written someone the best and most famous songs off all time.  Many people have heard songs such as “Ring of Fire,” “Cry! Cry! Cry!,” and “Man in Black” but those are just a few of the great songs that this movie has on the soundtrack.  Mr. Cash is known as one of the greatest song writers of all time. He pioneered a fiercely original sound that blazed a trail for rock, country, punk, folk and rap stars to come.           

    Walk the Line is a highly entertaining movie with excellent music throughout.  It gives you a real look at the trials and tribulations that people go through while trying to make it in life.  The movie will make you feel a range of emotions from anger to sadness to falling on the floor laughing.  Johnny Cash lived a very interesting life and everyone should experience this movie.