Another powerful Oscar contender in the "year of the biopic"

Rating: 9/10 (23 November 2005)

Fascinating, music-filled biography of Johnny Cash, this movie really doesn't pull any punches in graphically showing the troubled celebrity's many flaws. From Cash's rural Arkansas childhood with an abusive, alcoholic father, through his meteoric rise to fame as one of the leading lights of country music, to his hard fall due to drugs and alcohol and eventual redemption through the love of a strong-willed, grounded woman.
River Phoenix gives a great performance, channeling Cash's powerful bass voice and awkward guitar style- despite his lack of any resemblance to the real Johnny Cash. But the real star of this movie is the amazing Reese Witherspoon, who perfectly captures the on-stage charm and wit of June Carter, while showing the courage and determination of a show-biz veteran. Both stars show their incredible range of talents by doing their own singing and playing, too. Great script, rising well above what lesser talents would've turned into an overly long "True Hollywood Story", and showing the real heartaches and strength of two great American talents,