Cash & Phoenix – Why didn’t I see it before?

I don’t know why it takes my brain so long to make certain connections.  “Walk the Line,” the autobiographical film of Johnny Cash’s life came out in 2005.  I saw it.  I loved it. 

I had heard through many of the related media promotions that Joaquín Phoenix had met Johnny Cash and his wife June Carter Cash, and that Johnny Cash had selected Joaquín.  At the time, I thought, “Oh, that’s interesting.  Johnny must have thought that Joaquín was a good actor and would do a good job.”  But if you had told me before I saw the film that Joaquín would be perfect for the role, I would have been skeptical.  I wasn’t very impressed with his performance in Gladiator (but I wasn’t a big fan of that movie either).  But I had admired his acting in Parenthood, To Die For (excellent acting), and Inventing the Abbots.

Today, I was re-reading a magazine ad I had torn out and saved.   It has a beautiful black & white picture of Johnny Cash (below).   The torn ad line reads “Musicians who play from their hearts.  Even when they’re broken.”

And it hit me.   That might be part of the reason why Johnny chose Joaquín – because Johnny knew Joaquín had also lost his beloved older brother (River) in a tragic incident.   Johnny knew Joaquín was a great actor.   But he also knew Joaquín would understand his pathos and struggles exceptionally well.

That realization reminded me why I save ALL the best art I can – because so often I don’t see or understand most of the beauty of what’s in front of me.    And sometimes, even though I’m tragically slow, I can make those connections down the road.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Phoenix

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Carter_Cash