Psst - This section contains some inside trivia about the film
Quotes - Good One Liners from the movie
Oops - Goofs from the movie
Director – James Mangold
Screenplay – Johnny Cash, Patrick Carr & Gill Dennis.
Bio Pic about the World’s Greatest Country Rock Singer, Johnny Cash played brilliantly by Joaquin Phoenix. Starts from his Childhood when he grows up in a poor family of cotton farmers and how is Father Marshall Cash(Larry Bargby) is always biased to his more intelligent Son Jack(Lucas Till) and how he always blames Johnny for his Son’s untimely death. Johnny has just one passion in life. To be a big musician. He marries Vivian (Ginnifer Goodwin) and even though he is almost bankrupt he never forgets his one single aim in life. When he gets to successfully cut a record for Sun Records in 1955, there is no stopping. People go crazy over his swoony voice. On one multi music concert he meets his childhood sweetheart and idol, June Carter(Reese Witherspoon) and falls madly in love with her despite the fact that he is married and has 3 children already. Movie shows his life from growing to the world’s best country rock singer to his drug addiction which drives him penniless and how a June Carter manages to rehab him and he once again turns big with his biggest hit album – At Folsom Prison and the number one hit song – Folsom Prison Blues. We have seen so many bio pics and so many movies made on Singers and musicians but this is truly the best movie ever made on a musician’s life. Reminds you very much of such movies like The Doors, Almost Famous, That Thing You Do and even Great Balls on Fire. Excellent Acting by the lead stars and it won Joaquin Phoenix the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy and Reese Witherspoon – Best Actress – Musical Or Comedy and also won them the coveted nominations for Best Actor and Actress for the Oscars. Superb Music by Michael McCusker and excellent direction by James Mangold. A must see, specially for music lovers.
Psst -
1) It took 4 years for the producers to get the rights of the movie and another 4 years to actually manage to make it although the actual shooting time was just about 4 months.
2) Shooting commenced nearly a year after Both June Carter and Johnny Cash Died. Before their death, Johnny Cash Nominated Joaquin Phoenix for his role and June Carter Nominated Reese Witherspoon.
3) Johnny Cash’s real name was J R Cash. His parents, at the time of his birth, couldn’t agree on a name so they kept initials instead. During his time at the airforce when they wouldn’t accept initials at registeration, he had to change the name to John R Cash and later Johnny Cash.
4) The Album At Folsom Prison was actually recorded live at The Prison. Similary he recorded another live album at San Quentin Prison.
5) Although he was out of drug during the early 70’s, he was again addicted and then sent to rehabilitation where he met and became friends with Ozzy Osburne.
6) He hated being called a country singer as he was always believed that Music doesn’t have any genres.
7) Was voted as the number 1 Country Singer and the 38th best Rock and Roll Musician of all time by the Rolling Stones Magazine.
8) One of the rare successful musicians who never got a single nomination at any of the Big Music Awards.
9) The Songs in the Movie are actually sung by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon and it took them month’s of practice to learn the guitar and the harp successfully. It also took them 6 months to get vocal training.
10 ) Although the movie was made on a $29 million Budget, It grossed nearly $116 million worldwide. It covered the cost in the first 3 days itself.
11) This is a very personal movie for Joaquin Phoenix. Primarily because a part of the movie, which shows Johnny Cash’s brother dying reminded Joaquin of his own brother River Phoenix dying. River Phoenix was a rock singer who died due to a drug overdose and his last minutes were spent in the hand of Joaquin. The Scene where Joaquin is speaking to June about his brother is very very real and from the heart.
Quotes:-
1) “We’re all going to hell for the songs we sing.”
2) “Now I’ve asked you forty different ways and it’s time you come up with a fresh answer.”
3) “Even Elvis has it.”
4) “You wear black cause you cant find anything else to wear, You found your sound cause you cant play no better, and you just tried to kiss me cause it just happened? You should try taking credit for something every once in a while.”
5) “So y’all sit down, squat down or lie down but make yourselves at home ’cause here’s the one and only, Mr. Johnny Cash.”
6) “With you all dressed in black, you look like you’re going to a funeral;: Maybe I am.”
7) “Mr. Cash, please refrain from singing songs that would remind them that they’re in prison; You think they forgot?”
8) “God said not to touch the apple. He didn’t say have a nibble, He didn’t say touch it every once in a while! He said ’’Don’t. Touch. It.’’ Don’t think about touching it, don’t sing about touching it, don’t think about singing about touching it. Don’t touch it.”
9) “Your fans are gospel folk, Johnny. They’re Christians, and they don’t wanna hear you singing to a bunch of murderers and rapists, tryin’ to cheer ’em up; Then they ain’t Christians.”
10) “Fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency.”
Oops
I didn’t see any goofs.
PS – I would like to thank IMDB.com for providing the inputs about the trivia section.