Johnny Cash: American Rebel

This is a documentary about the legendary music icon with the support of his family, friends, and famous fans. I'm only a passing fan of his more iconic songs after being revived in his later years. By the time I got into music in the 80s, he was already at his low point. Of course, his cover of "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails broke my heart although I did hear his music before then.

This is a rather traditional style of doc with interviews recounting his life and his career. There isn't much shockingly new especially if you've seen the biopic. It's great to see the old footage of June performing on her own. All the old footage is compelling. The fawning fandom by all the famous artists does get repetitive. I rather hear about some small interesting little side story about his career. When he makes the comeback, I start to recognize the story for real. I'm glad they did a section on Hurt. This is one for his fans.

Johnny Cash: American Rebel (2015)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Extremely entertaining documentary covering the life of Johnny Cash. The documentary uses interview footage, concert footage as well as interviews with some of Cash's closest friends including John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Kris Kristofferson, Rodney Crowell, Merle Haggard, Rick Rubin as well as family members Rosanne Cash, Carlene Carter and John Carter Cash.

If you're a fan of Johnny Cash then you're certainly going to watch this as there are plenty of great interviews as well as a lot of home movies that were previously unseen. We also get a lot of concert footage, television appearances and other items, which highlight Cash's music. The biggest problem with this documentary is that it clocks in at around 95-minutes, which isn't enough time to get all the information about Cash that's probably needed. While nothing here is told in great detail, the documentary does a fantastic job at giving you bits and pieces of everything Cash did. This includes his troubled childhood, his drug addiction, his rise to fame, his religious period, his downfall and his eventual rise towards the end of his life.

JOHNNY CASH: American REBEL is certainly going to appeal to Cash fans but it will probably be even better for those unfamiliar with the man and just wanting to see what made him a legend.

I normally wait a day or two before rating a film. More importantly I like to wait a few days before writing a review so as to take off the edges from the highs and the lows of a film and to fully absorb in my thoughts in the outline why I liked or disliked a film. In the case of this documentary it may be true that the directors Derik Murray, and Jordan Tappis downplayed Johnny Cash's alcohol and substance abuse problems as well as his fancy for the ladies.

Instead this documentary focused more on what made Johnny Cash one of the most beloved musicians of his generation and also cherished by his peers/producers such as Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Merle Haggard, John Mellencamp, Kid Rock, music mogul Clive Davis. and Rick Rubin. From an early age working on his struggling parents farm with Christian music as his life giving staple Johnny Cash showed a knack for singing and writing songs. As with many young men who were going overseas, Johnny Cash met the first love of his life to whom he wrote constantly and they continued to exchange hundreds of love letters until that eventual day that Johnny returned from overseas, married his first love, and rather quickly fathered four (4) daughters.

This documentary is sprinkled with a number of Johnny Cash's most famous songwriting hits and number one (1) producing albums and what were the reason(s) he explained for writing these particular classic songs. As the years progressed and his fame even faster, we discover how Johnny and June Carter became an item first and then eventually after each of their respective divorces these two songbirds married. Johnny and June Carter had two children of their own who also provide insight in this documentary into their parents family relationship, their music and stage partnership and most importantly a love that lasted until eventually June died first and Johnny died only four (4) months later.

I was so intrigued with Johnny Cash's life, his concerts performed in men's high security prisons, his numerous TV specials and why he chose to always perform in black attire. The documentary does note that in the 1980's Johnny's popularity declined sharply as rock music began to rise but little was mentioned about Johnny's appetite for pain-killers which most likely affected his stage performances as well as limiting his writing ability for new material.

This is a wonderful documentary and not to be considered light entertainment. It is heavy personal information into Johnny's early life that provides excellent insight as well as some of his greatest songs that the man in black sings for us, so pay attention and learn something about this gifted singer/songwriter. I give the documentary a perfect 10 out of 10 rating.