Very good. Reese steals the show.

Rating: 7/10 (19 November 2005)

But you will appreciate what Joaquin Phoenix does here too. The only thing I didn't like about his portrayel, someone else here mentioned--they sucked the joy right outta Johnny Cash's being. This guy came alive on stage, he loved what he did, and I just somehow reject the constand Brooding persona that we see played out before us.
Phoenix could have added more on that side I think. But beyond it--I have no real problems. The staging is good, the concerts Highly believable--here you get Both actors--non-singers at that, to Sing the stuff and sound at least Reasonably like Carter and Cash. That was a shock. I would have liked more of the Folsom Prison concert, and maybe a Billy Graham(played by Franklin?) cameo, but okay--that's more Johnny from the '70s anyhows I suppose.
Best of the movie--Reese. She is great. She was believable as a singer, she was a 3-D person, firey, spunky, smart, living in a tough shell. You did want to shake'em both about not getting together sooner, but nevermind. Oscar time for her if not Phoenix, I think he will get a nod too.
Enjoyed the bits of Elvis, Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee, Waylon(played by his son!), etc. Those were fun and added some local color to the preceedings.
They left out Johnny's night in the Cave when things were at rock bottom, and the business about setting a park on fire from a leaky truck, but never mind, they got the high points pretty much. I did think that it dragged some in last half-hour and that we could have used less of the druggy scene and more on his actual music and recording. The man was an artist after all, of some Very strong merit.
Kudos to Robert Patrick and Shelby Lynne as his folks too! *** outta ****. Check it out.