Catching up on 2005 movies -- a couple more that were in limited release will be going broad this weekend (a possible shoulda-been nomination, Tommy Lee Jones' directorial debut, and a feel good film with Anthony Hopkins, both which I might see) -- I finally saw Walk The Line. Good thing -- the movie is good, the music great for the spirit, but the leads are remarkable. Both received Oscar nominations and Reese Witherspoon (reverting to her native accent ... at least the region) probably has a good shot of winning (Felicity Huffman might be her biggest competition in the "special" actress role, but then, an actress already run recently playing a guy).
I leave it to those who know them better to determine if the performances match the real life stars,* but I am with David Letterman (who praised RW's perf when she was on his show promoting a different movie), they were impressive. An early laugh, for me at least, is when young JR (John R. Cash) quoted Foghorn Leghorn to his older brother, "Fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency." Love that rooster. Later, when a record company executive said that his fans would not want him entertaining "a bunch of murderers and rapists," Cash replied in a way that fits the present times quite a bit as well: "Then they ain't Christians." Appropriate too for the memory of Coretta Scott King.
Reese Witherspoon also is often equally the star of the movie as June Carter, who as was Johnny Cash, was married to someone else when they first met and fell for each other. Along with Joaquin Phoenix, she did her own singing, and also is great doing her stage routine -- from the beginning, she is perfectly in character. A great scene also is when she is shopping and a customer (after the owners are so pleased to see her) stops her and compliments her for having such Christian parents. Then, she comments that June herself will be going to hell, since she's divorced ... marriage is for life. (June Cash was an act since she was a kid ... I reckon, especially down South, divorce in the '50s would be truly horrid to some people.) Taken aback, June apologizes for disappointing her.
A scene where she is told by Cash's wife to stay away from "my daughters" is also good. The diminishing relationship between John and his wife also is addressed by the film. His wife is not given a chance to have too much of a personality, but the growing hatred is hard to watch. It sadly reflects real life and suggests how continuing a broken marriage is really as destructive to the institution's goals, including the moral ones, as divorce might be. Overall, the hard feelings and disgust between the two people here -- made even more tragic by past love and connections such as children -- is one of the saddest things I can imagine. Such hatred is just too painful to have to bear.
Anyway, I definitely recommend this film. BTW, it only deals with the first half of the subject's life ... up to his marriage to June Carter. And, one last thing ... another favorite line ... Waylon Jennings, as a hippie sort, telling Johnny the phone is cut off because of lack of foundation.
A word on the Oscar nominations. As noted, this film is at its center about the stars, so it is not too surprising that it did not catch "Best Picture." I am a bit surprised, however, that The Constant Gardener was not among the five. After all, since Rachel Weisz is going against Michelle Williams and A History of Violence is also nominated for "Adapted Screenplay," who knows if it will get another nod? The top five all are "Hollywood liberal message pictures," and it just might be too much. (TCG actually fits the theme.) Toss in other nominations such as North Country and a Woody Allen film, and "broad audience fave" is not actually what one thinks. But, yeah, a few of the films are audience pleasers, including Walk The Line.
Now, King Kong -- though some critics loved it -- IMHO was a bit of a bust as a picture, surely not excellent as a package ... though darn if the SFX better win something. (The last Star Wars film got count them ONE nomination ... how the mighty have fallen.) And, maybe Upside of Anger (the other movie I saw last year worthy of a reminder) wasn't THAT good. But, there is something a bit dull about this bunch. If Brokeback Mountain is not quite your cup of tea, I doubt you probably saw many of the others either. I know I haven't ... they all have a sorta "see them because they are good for ya" feel to them. Hey, congrats to George Clooney for all your nominations (don't know if he will win any), but I still think Syriana looks like leftist propaganda ... even if it more true than false. A surprise though that Terrence Howard was nominated for a hood role in Hustle & Flow. Oh, and Corpse Bride better win animated feature.
I am with a local television reporter that the host, Jon Stewart, is a questionable choice. I too do not find him funny, more annoying and a snarky "in joke" sort of guy. We are supposed to be impressed with his "tude," though the line between him and David Spade is a bit too small. Stewart has a loyal following, but somewhat a narrow one, and is a risky choice to my eyes. Perhaps, David Letterman suggested the danger of having talk show hosts other than Johnny Carson on as hosts. Steve Allen was probably the best of the recent bunch (himself a late fill-in ... I am not really a Billy Crystal fan, but he did a good job ... Whoopi was lousy.)
My Picks: Brokeback Mountain, Heath Ledger, Reese Witherspoon (Huffman was good too), (I really don't like the Supporting Actors; Jake Gyllenhaal annoys me ... the others I did not see), Michelle Williams (Rachel Weisz was good too), Ang Lee, (I did not see the nominated foreign films, but Downfall -- the last days of Nazi Germany -- was a great one and Don't Move was impressive), The Constant Gardener (BM also was a great adapted screenplay, but this deserves a nod), (did not see, nor wish to, the original screenplay nods), and Corpse Bride. As to documentary, the penguin movie surely will win, but a nod to a non-Oscar worthy, but still fun, documentary about women stunt workers -- Double Dare.
Other Picks: The Constant Gardner should have received at least one more top nomination, including director. Off the Map and Winter Solstice also were among the forgotten best movies of 2005. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants gets the "best teen movie" nod from my sister, though she is no teen. Bewitched can be among the Worst of 2005 along with the surely overrated The Aristocrats ... waste of my time ... Nicole Kidman was good in the former though. Nine Songs also can be selected in the "best movie full of sex that was boring as hell and unsexy to boot."
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* My mom, a fan of Johnny Cash, didn't see the movie, but noted to me that she really couldn't see Reese Witherspoon as June Carter.