Wow, Walk the Line is really good.

Finally saw Walk the Line... and I was expecting to like it, but WOW. It was not a perfect film, really, but it's one of those movies that makes you not really care that it's not perfect. It did what it did damn well. I left that theater happy.

In fact, maybe it is a perfect film... just not the most ambitious film ever made. But really, I have no complaints.

btw, this thing IS getting nominated for best picture. It has the most visceral movie "punch" of any film I've seen this year, including Brokeback Mountain. And the lead performances are sublime. In fact, I could even see it winning... but only if Brokeback hits a backlash and WtL gets nominated for director and/or screenplay and lots of other things, which I don't think it will do. I'm thinking picture, actor, actress, sound, and editing will happen, though (and deservedly so). But not much else. For instance, when I was watching this movie, I was NOT thinking about the costumes. Nothing too special, there. And the writing, direction, cinematography, etc. were solid but not spectacular.

What I WAS thinking about, and what WERE expectional, were the two lead performances. WOW. Truly a pairing for the ages. Chemistry/charisma to spare. The film set itself up very well in terms of the first 30 minutes or so being just about Cash and the novelty of seeing Phoenix "do" him so well. And then Phoenix starts singing, and we're like "wow, how good" etc. But the mimicry starts to wear thin, as mimicry often does, and the movie starts to get boring. Not much here, really.

And then BAM!, Witherspoon/Carter is introduced, and the film picks right up. It is nothing before her entrance, and that's as it should be, because this is a love story, not a run-of-the-mill biopic. It's more from Cash's point of view, but it's really about the two of them. And how nice that since it's REESE, Hollywood superstar, the category maneuvering will reflect that. No supporting kudos for her. And really, she is extraordinary here. What's so great about it, really, is that she's finally funnelling all her spunk, sass, and sharp-as-nails comic timing into a full, deep, dramatic role. Plus, she sings. Better than June Carter. Really, this is the first time I've seen Reese do something that didn't feel, at the end of the day, like nothing more than a caricature. Which is not to say that she hasn't been good. She was VERY good in Legally Blonde and Election, and elsewhere. She's always had the chops. But here, she finally puts them to full use. Brava.

And assuming WtL gets the picture nom and keeps up its momentum as the only big hit in the lineup, Reese will win the oscar. I'm sure of it. She's just so strong, loveable, and all-over-the-map emotionally (and of course, so popular in Hollywood) that I just can't see Huffman trumping her. Won't happen. UNLESS WtL suddenly isn't as well-loved across the board; then there could be trouble. But I think it speaks volumes that Reese has won the lion's share of critics' awards when this doesn't seem like the kind of performance the critics would get behind. Plus, WtL needs a win somewhere, and she is its only hope, since Phoenix is unfortunately being met with underwhelming response, due, I think, to Cash's similarities with Ray Charles - it feels too much like a retread, at least in terms of awardage. But with critical and popular sentiment behind her, Reese Witherspoon can't lose.

But speaking of Phoenix, he is stellar also. His singing, mimicry, and drug-addicted freakouts are wonderful and highly affecting. He is terrific in the role, and deserves the golden globe he will win as much as Witherspoon deserves hers.

But really, what's great is the chemistry. Great love story. Watching them together made me want to laugh and cry. And the prison concert made me want to stomp and cheer. Seriously. Despite all the clichés it employs, this is a REALLY good movie. See it, if you haven't already.

Grade: Man, I don't even know. Whatever. Something good. A "B" feels too low to me. But an "A" would be kind of undeserved. It's tricky, because it's not the actual filmmaking so much as the performances and the strength of the love story that gives you that feeling of "aaaah... great movie". But the end result is kind of the same. I dunno. B+.