If you saw Reese Witherspoon’s Oscar-winning performance in “Walk The Line,” and thought her story needed a dose of muddy visuals and histrionic melodrama, Lifetime has fixed your needs completely with their new original movie.
In a move thankfully more fitting than Lindsay Lohan as Liz Taylor in their upcoming biopic, “Liz & Dick,” Lifetime has cast the singer Jewel in “The June Carter Story,” playing the titular country icon in a film about her life. Previously only seen in bit parts in Ang Lee’s “Ride With The Devil” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" (which, ironically, poked fun at projects resembling, oh, this one),” Jewel will take center stage as the film chronicles June’s rise to fame alongside her husband Johnny Cash, before breaking out on her own for a solo career. Of course, June was a major force in saving Cash’s life during his well-chronicled substance abuse, so expect some well-earned salvation through the power of music, from the people that brought you “Drew Peterson: Untouchable.”
The entire premise almost comes with a mental direct-to-DVD cover attached, so packaged and well worn the music biopic route has gone. One possible note of interest though – Allison Anders, of “Gas, Food, Lodging” and “Border Radio” fame is directing the film, coming off a solid string of helming “Southland” episodes. Who knows if her sensibility will be enough to make the film worth watching, but if not, you can always put on Pieces Of You for a spin to enjoy Jewel on a purely auditory level.
“The June Carter Cash Story” will begin filming this summer in Atlanta for a premiere later this year.