Good, but not great!

Rating: 5/10 (20 November 2005)

It's a known fact that director James Mangold makes great movies. With "Cop Land" he set a new standard for cop films and with "Identity" he blew us away. Now he takes on the life of one of musics most influential icons, Johhny Cash.
First off Mangold cast moody actor Joaquin Phoenix as Cash. Phoenix's performance as Cash is so convincing, you think you're watching the real Johnny Cash. As for Reese Witherspoon, she took on the role of June Carter the longtime love interest of Johnny Cash. Reese is so incredible in this movie, especially as she trades one liners back and forth with Joaquin.
The only flaw in the movie is the plot, that's been done so many times in movies. Instead of showing a unique look into the wild life of the famed singer, director James Mangold instead has made a movie about fame and drug addiction. By ignoring actual events that happened in Cash's life, this movie just comes out looking like another watered down studio flick.