Walk The Line: 2-Disc Collector’s Edition

As a longtime Johnny Cash fan, I awaited the release of Walk The Line with a fervor often associated with Star Wars fans who still live in their parents’ basement. Imagine my disappointment when I found the film itself to be a formulaic biopic, annoyingly neglecting several legendary vignettes that were perfect for the big screen. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that Joaquin Phoenix had Cash’s swagger down pat, even if Cash’s resonant baritone eluded him, and the chemistry between Phoenix and Witherspoon was palpable. Still, I tried to hold out until the price dropped on the DVD. I didn’t even last a week. I bought the two-disc collector’s edition when I noticed it included several new featurettes, including one on the legendary Folsom Prison concert. The producers couldn’t be bothered to license actual photographs of the Man in Black, so they just threw some pictures of Phoenix on screen along with some talking heads reciting things even the casual Cash fan probably already knows. Still, if you enjoyed the film, the DVD is probably worth a purchase—just skip the special edition, and you’ll have enough money for a real Johnny Cash CD.