Herald rating: * * * *
The Man in Black's life story could have been just another celebrity biopic. But it's lifted way out of the ordinary by outstanding performances from the leads.
As Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon could have walked the line
and got away with it. However, they put their souls into this; we go inside a ring of fire.
James Mangold's screenplay and direction is pretty pedestrian - Cash growing up in Arkansas under a booze-sodden father (Robert Patrick) grieving the loss of his older son and resenting the younger survivor; Cash's escape to the Air Force in Germany (note parallel with a fellow Sun Records artist, later in his career), and into country music.
Cash comes back to the US, marries and begins raising a family - the most famous of whom, Roseanne, naturally has some issues with this version of her father's life.
He wangles an audition with the legendary Sam Phillips (Dallas Roberts) of Sun Records in Memphis. About to dismiss him, Phillips gives Cash one last chance, asking for one of his own songs. Cash picks out Folsom Prison Blues.
The rest, as they say, is celebrity. From obscurity to stardom, money, chemicals and sex. You've seen it in Ray, you'll see it here - coming out the other side of all the aforementioned.
On the excellent 2-disc DVD, writer-director Mangold's commentary reveals Cash's input before his death in 2003.
Ten deleted scenes are revived and, in Cash And The Comeback, Kris Kristofferson and other pals reflect on the epic 1968 Folsom Prison concert.
In Ring of Fire John Carter Cash joins Kristofferson to discuss his parents' love affair.
Later, Phoenix talks about preparing for the role (he had to learn guitar) and Witherspoon compares her life to June Carter's.
The Making Of has the usual sweet-talk from the leads about one another's performances, Cash And His Faith shows us the man's spiritual side and there are eight musical sequences.
* DVD, video rental out now
