But I will remain...

[rebness]

Well, that was a rather good Saturday. patchworkgirl_ and wig_maker descended on the 'Pool for the birthday of the latter. I showed them the wonderful, amazing delights of the city, which I'll upload later from my spiffy new digital camera. We did some extremely pretentious and arty stuff, most notably a video installation of children pretending to be famous artists that was borderline porn at one point. No, really.

Anyway, I'm here today to talk about Walk The Line, which we finally got around to seeing. Wow, but Joaquin Phoenix was amazing, and not just in that usual hot way of his. He had the look, the voice, the darkness down so well. I think he really got to the essence of Johnny Cash, though I had a lump in my throat when, as Johnny, he talked about the death of his brother. Phoenix looked so fragile and so bitter in that moment that it invariably reminded us of the loss of his own brother, and how that scene must have affected him.

Reese Witherspoon, of whom I've never really been a fan, was really good. Though my British heart felt insulted that she won a BAFTA over British actors and didn't even turn up to the ceremony, I will happily say she deserved to win. It was the most satisfying, well-realised film I have had the pleasure to watch in a long time. I really hope this film receives recognition at the Oscars. *Plays Ring of Fire for the fifth time today*

Comments

[rhionnach.livejournal.com]

I can't see me going to see "Walk the Line" as I can't stand country music!

[rebness.livejournal.com]

LMAO! See, I'm not a huge fan of country music either, but Cash has always had a special place in my heart because I associate him with my father and he always seemed so...unique. It's a great tale of a man stumbling and stumbling and finally dragging himself up again, so maybe cover your eyes during the songs? LOL! ;)

[sascha.livejournal.com]

We loved that movie... and I, too, played Ring of Fire constantly the day after. ;-)

[rebness.livejournal.com]

It's an addictive song. We saw it at FACT -- amazed at how many young people were there to watch it. There must just be some ineffable quality about Cash that reaches across the generations. Or something. ;)

[sascha.livejournal.com]

I love FACT.

I'm not really a fond of Johnny Cash, to be honest, but I did really enjoy the movie and the music. :-)

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Hee. Excellent.

There are some rather strange exhibits at FACT at the moment, though I have to admit to being a little disappointed at missing out on the Karaoke Room (everyone seemed to flock to it.)

[zhonghua2000.livejournal.com]

How did I not know it was wig_maker's birthday? I mean it's not on my LJ birthday thing! *breathe*

Johnny Cash was not my favorite either but his story was always interesting. And poor River Phoenix. *sigh* Anyway.. glad for the good weekend. Talk soon. :D

PS: Loving the new layout/background thing. <3

[rebness.livejournal.com]

Oh, you know. The old background was so boring, I couldn't bear to *look* at my journal. Granted, this is only a vague modification of a preset theme, but I likes it. :D

[zhonghua2000.livejournal.com]

Hmm... of course I feel the need to plaigarize now. Maybe later. I'm bored too. And late picking up Jess! AAAAACK!

[verastar99.livejournal.com]

aaahhh...but i'm so unhappy at the acclaim its gotten. it became so very mainstream, and so many facts were altered to fit the movie screen.

Of course, i still havent dragged myself to see the thing, mostly because i cant stand reese witherspoon, but i live amongst a huge contingent of Cash lovers and have already been informed of the level of fallicies present in the piece.

A good friend of ours has a song he wrong, a rather good gospel song called "The ledger of the Lord" he always tells the story of some period of spiritual searching he had, and that one night, he dreamt of Johnny cash coming to him, singing this song, and telling him to write it down. He woke up and wrote it down. Johnny Cash had just died, but i can't remember if he had JUST heard of his death, or didnt hear till the next morning.

so...that's my story...that's all :)

[verastar99.livejournal.com]

i must also say...

I would not classify Johnny Cash as Country. But very typically american, and really almost American folk since it speaks to the very traditional spirituals and mountain music of america.

June Carter was the daughter of the patriarchs of that american mountain spiritual/folk music The Carter Family, beautiful stuff.

There are so many stories connected with Cash's history and songs, so many of them are lost here and there. I always laugh at the story of Ring of Fire where the music and horn composition was inspired by a lost night in front of a mariachi Band.

And i'm not really sure if his first wife is mentioned in the movie? a mediterranean woman who's name escapes me. he was already carrying on with june, quite blatantly in front of her, before they even split up. it was a messy thing.

[mothergoddamn.livejournal.com]

She is in throughout, her daughter has been quoted that her mother was portrayed as a controlling bossy woman when she in fact was a great supporter of his career. The movie is based on Johnny Cash's autobiography and produced by his son.

[rebness.livejournal.com]

To be fair, Cash was portrayed as treating her rather roughly in some scenes, but yes, I know what you mean.

The Carter family really interest me-- might have to look them up.

I don't really know enough about country music or American folk to make comparisons, but Cash always struck me as something unique, something vibrant that gave a real voice to the American spirit... that might just be a fanciful thing on my part, but it was something I really liked about him. Or something. ;)