The Couch Potato Report – February 28th, 2006
This week The Couch Potato Report shines the spotlight on Johnny Cash, Jane Austen and a lady, and her tramp.
When I was a kid my Dad’s friend Mark Walsh used to always talk about and play music for us by Johnny Cash.
I have no idea where Mark Walsh is today, but I will never forget him for introducing me to Johnny Cash.
Even though I never met Mr. Cash, I feel as if I know him, because I know so much about him.
I know his real name is JR, I know about his drug problems, his religious beliefs, his wives, his children, and his music.
Most of all, I know about his music.
And it is because I feel like I know Johnny Cash that watching the film WALK THE LINE was so tough.
WALK THE LINE is a well made, engaging film that – on its own – isn’t tough to watch, but because Johnny and June Carter Cash are the subjects of the film, it was tough to watch because I know the subject so well.
That is unlike last year’s successful music biopic RAY.
I love Ray Charles’ music, but I didn’t know that much about his life, so all of RAY was new and interesting, and it inspired me to find out more.
However, there were a few times in WALK THE LINE when I found myself saying, “That’s not how that happened!”
But, I still loved WALK THE LINE.
That is primarily due to the Man In Black himself, but also because this is an exceptionally entertaining film.
WALK THE LINE looks at Cash’s life from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm, through his rise to fame and marriage to June.
Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon give superb performances, and they do their own singing as well. The Academy Award nominations they received for their work are truly justified.
Johnny and June’s love story is at the heart of WALK THE LINE, but it is Johnny Cash’s music that is the film’s centre.
That music will always remain honest and true, just like Johnny Cash himself.
WALK THE LINE is a superb film, even if you find yourself saying: “That’s not how that happened!”
If you are a fan of Jane Austen the way that some of us are fans of Johnny Cash, you might find yourself saying something similar to “That’s not how that happened!” when you see the new film adaptation of her book PRIDE & PREJUDICE.
While this youthful retelling of the story about five sisters in Georgian England, and their mother’s attempt to marry them off, is very faithful to the original text, some purists may have some problems with the changes.
Purists can rest easy though because a few things haven’t changed; Elizabeth is still strong-willed and opinionated, and Mr. Darcy is still wealthy and a good romantic match for Elizabeth.
Keira Knightley from LOVE ACTUALLY and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL was given an Academy Award nomination for her work in PRIDE & PREJUDICE and even if I don’t believe she is entirely deserving of the honour, the film she is in is entirely deserving of your time.
When PRIDE & PREJUDICE was released in theatres last November the studio promoted it as “the greatest love story of all time.”
With all apologies to the folks at Universal, but isn’t the greatest love story of all time Walt Disney’s LADY AND THE TRAMP?!?!
Well, I think it is!
The classic animated film LADY AND THE TRAMP is about a young Cocker-Spaniel named Lady and her meeting with Tramp, a dog who lives life to the fullest, and their adventures together.
It is the perfect film for everyone because the animation is beautiful and the film is fun.
And now it is time to celebrate the film once more with the 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION of LADY & THE TRAMP.
Disney’s new two-disc DVD set includes an all-new digital restoration with enhanced picture and sound; two never-before-seen deleted sequences; The making of Lady and the Tramp; plus you can learn about the real-life breeds that inspired the characters in the movie; and there is also an all-new “Bella Notte” music video.
As LADY AND THE TRAMP teaches us, no dog is above the law. But the new 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION of Walt Disney’s masterpiece LADY & THE TRAMP definitely stands above all of this week’s other new releases that are available now at a store near you, including PRIDE & PREJUDICE and WALK THE LINE.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
The made in Saskatchewan Hollywood film JUST FRIENDS debuts on DVD, alongside HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, the fourth installment of that uber-successful franchise.
In JARHEAD soldiers battle the heat and enemy in the first Gulf War, PRIME features Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep and HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE is the latest film from Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!
Categories