JOHNNY CASH'SAMERICA
Fantastic film.
Shown in connection with NXNE, this documentary is just plain awesome.
Lots of talking heads, but they all say profound things about the Man in Black.
Steve Earle, Johnny's children, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn and even Snoop Dogg discuss Johnny Cash's impact on and love of America.
It's well known that he always identified with the disenfranchised, the poor or the otherwise hard-done-by's. And God bless him for that.
He always wore black for them (and because it's always "IN" as a color...)
He went to the White House several times, on the invite of several different Presidents. He was profoundly Patriotic, and he's seen in vintage clips giving speeches about the "tattered flag" that he loves, meeting several Presidents, visiting Wounded Knee to show his solidarity with the Native Indian (he even believed he was part-Indian. Even tho he really wasn't). He had many different sides, and they are all given some time here.His patriotism is very deep and profound- he really knew the history of America- all of it. The good (democracy) and the bad (genocide).
His fascination with cowboys, trains, criminals, The Lord Jesus, his drug addictions, his relationship with the Carter Family and June in particular are all given adequate time for reflection.
All aspects of Cash's life are looked at: his birth and upbringing in Arkansas (the cotton fields), his brother Jack's tragic death, his stint in the Air Force, Sun Records and how Memphis changed his life, his TV show in the 60's, protests, his relationship with Bob Dylan, being signed to Columbia Records, being DROPPED by Columbia, the drugs, the Billy Graham Crusades and of course Rick Rubin's resurrection and "redemption" of John as a real American Icon, rebellious as ever. It never occured to me until seeing this doc that the Trent Reznor cover song "Hurt" was him saying goodbye, explicitly.He played it for his daughter and she cried, found it disturbing. He asked her what she thought and she said "it's sad. It sounds like you're saying goodbye in that song" He replied "I AM saying goodbye!" and he laughed.
She said that he knew exactly where he was going, even right up to the end.
I am in complete awe of the Man and what he represents. He's just like Bob Dylan says he is: "John is the North Star. He'll guide your ship"
His colleagues have lots to say, too much for me to re-type here. It is 100% profile, 100% CASH. Honest, just like the man himself.
I forget who says it in the movie but I like this quote:
"Who can understand the Mystery of Johnny Cash? He had Magic. Maybe he was a Saint..."
Last edited by Johann; 06-22-2010 at 06:25 PM.
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