This friday we’ll be at C4 in Ada, Oklahoma. Hopefully, everyone will be ready to get away from the family, have a few drinks, and listen to some tunes.

Saturday, we’ll be at Kongo’s following the bedlam game. I’m really looking forward to the game and the show.

Recording continues as scheduled, but now, I am shooting for a release date close to the end of February. I’ll keep you posted on the progress.

Many people have asked my opinion on the recently released Johnny Cash biopic, “Walk the Line.” I must admit that I counted the days to release as enthusiasitcally as any Lord of the Rings Fan (I wouldn’t go so far as to place myself at the level of Star Wars Fanatic). I had my reservations, however, about Joaquin Pheonix’s role as one of the greatest recording artists ever. Even more disconcerting for me, was the choice to cast Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. Images of Sweet Home Alabama and the Legally Blonde pictures clouded my ability to imagine Reese adequately handling such a role. Consequently, my expectations weren’t unusually high. This proved to be a positive thing. My mediocre expectations allowed me to enjoy what I would ineloquently describe as an “okay” movie.

The story line was too shallow for me (although I fully realize that a two hour time limit greatly restricts the ability to illimunate events contained in a lifetime). It was basically lost John Cash (he had strayed from “walking the line” with pill addicition, he hadn’t found himself on a personal level, and it alludes, via a brief church scene with June, to the idea that he was lost religously) being obsessed with June who helps him find everything he’s looking for including his soul mate. I could go on and on about scenes with other famous people that seemed forced, the inconsistent use of facts (I know, there’s only two hours to tell the story), and cliches, but you get the idea.

As for the performances, I thought Phoenix must have put a great deal of time into his musical performances, and I laude him for it. The music in the movie is good. His acting was good, but as I suspected, he was always Joaquin Phoenix to me, and never Johnny Cash. Perhaps it is because I respect and admire Mr. Cash so greatly that no one would have performed to my satisfaction. Johnny had such a unique sound even in his regular speech, that it would be difficult to duplicate. Everyone always asks “who would you have cast?” I must admit, I don’t know. I think I would have tried to find an unknown actor, but as Will pointed out, this may have affected billing.

Reese Witherspoon was a pleasant surprise. She did a great job. I went in with a fairly closed attitude regarding her role, but I warmed to her quickly. She won me over.

Overall, I give it 3 and 1/2 stars out of 5. It’s worth watching, and should be considered a “good” movie; it’s just not a great movie.

Hope to see you out soon. You can let me know what you thought about “Walk the Line.”

Thanks for Lisnen,

Dameon