"Walk the Line"
"Kinsey", "Ed Wood", and now "Walk the Line" are positive examples of the genre. "Kinsey" worked because it furthered the real Dr. Kinsey's work in making the world less embarrassed, and more aware of their sexuality. "Ed Wood" worked because it celebrated Wood's ambition and camp with equal fervor. And now, "Walk the Line" works because it shows insight into Cash's life and work, portrays him honestly, and most importantly, it entertains its audience.
I know entertainment sounds like an easy ambition to accomplish, but it seems as though biography movies generally avoid entertainment as though it were a sign that they aren't taking the subject material seriously enough. "Ali" should have been a celebration of his life, not heavy-handed and depressing. I don't care how accurate the details are or how great the acting is. If the tone is horribly wrong, the movie doesn't work.
That's why "Walk the Line" is so refreshing. It doesn't make any attempt to be a 'great film'. It tells its story simply and doesn't bog itself down with idea of being 'inside the mind of a genius'. It has its moments of sadness, but they are certainly not the focus of the picture. It's a lovely little entertaining movie with several insights into Cash's work, and a true romance the viewer wants to see flourish. James Mangold's ambition (much like Johnny Cash's) was not to make something great, but to make something people will enjoy. I think that it was the reason "Walk the Line" had such a divided audience (one side loved it; the other side liked it, but couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about). Everyone expected to see something monumental, and some were pleasantly surprised that they didn't, while others were disappointed.
That James Mangold made sure his film was uplifting and happy, rather than a meditation on Johnny Cash's drug addiction or his/June Carter's death is the reason it succeeds. He may not have intended to make a great film, but through this unique approach, he made one anyway.
