Johnny's the MAN (in black) and June's great, too

Rating: 10/10 (21 November 2005)

Johnny Cash released his first song the year I was born, my Dad always loved his music, so I grew up listening to him. I'm not a country western music fan for the most part, but Johnny was one of those performers who could not be so singularly classified.
This movie captured the man I knew all my life to be the young Johnny Cash. I have always been a Joaquin Phoenix fan, but he stepped it up a notch here with an Oscar-worthy performance. Reese Witherspoon, as well, captured the character of June Carter, which I did not believe possible when I first heard she had the role. She was wonderful.
The scene right at the beginning of the movie where Johnny is looking at that power saw in Folsom Prison prior to his concert is one I will never forget. The foreboding of what is to come is ominous and powerfully presented.
The scene where Johnny (as a 12 year old) is told by his father that the "wrong son died!" will help all of us understand the demons he ended up having to exorcise in his rocky road to fame and spiritual freedom.
If the only Johnny Cash you remember is the one who sang on stage with evangelist Billy Graham or who appeared on various gospel specials or shows, sang songs by Nine Inch Nails, or if you are too young to remember who Johnny Cash even was, then this is your opportunity to see where the journey of a great man of God, the man in black, began.