Johnny Cash's America

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YOUR RATING

This documentary combines archival footage and interviews to examine the life of one of music's most universal legends, Johnny Cash. The film recounts the events of Cash's life, from his poo... Read allThis documentary combines archival footage and interviews to examine the life of one of music's most universal legends, Johnny Cash. The film recounts the events of Cash's life, from his poor beginnings to his celebrity and his battle with drugs. It also delves into how Cash addr... Read allThis documentary combines archival footage and interviews to examine the life of one of music's most universal legends, Johnny Cash. The film recounts the events of Cash's life, from his poor beginnings to his celebrity and his battle with drugs. It also delves into how Cash addressed the issues of his day and evolved to be both a patriot and a social activist. Many f... Read all

Directors
- Robert Gordon
- Morgan Neville
Writer
- Morgan Neville
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

171

YOUR RATING

Directors
- Robert Gordon
- Morgan Neville
Writer
- Morgan Neville
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Photos

Featured review

Nice Look at Cash's Life and Career

Johnny Cash's America (2008)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Very good documentary taking a look at the life and career of Johnny Cash. Through TV appearances, concert footage and various interview segments, we hear comments from Cash himself as well as his daughters, son, sister and musicians including Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Sheryl Crow, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, Tim Robbins, Snoop Dogg, Loretta Lyne, Kris Kristofferson, Al Gore and many more. Fans of Cash are certainly going to enjoy this documentary even though the majority of die-hard fans will probably know the stories. Just about every aspect of Cash's life is explored from his early days, which included his brothers death, to the drugs, his relationship with the Carter family, his political views, his days going to Folsom Prison and everything leading up to his final masterpiece Hurt. I think that overall the documentary really gives you a good insight to the times of Cash, how he wrote his music and just his overall feelings about life in general. The documentary does shy away from some of the darker moments but it does look at the various drug problem he had over the years. It was especially entertaining hearing from his sister as well as a daughter when she shares her thoughts about the first time she saw the video for Hurt and what her dad told her. The relationship between Dylan and Cash is looked at in some detail and we get some studio stuff that the two did for Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" album. I think the diverse interviewees just shows how many different types that Cash's music reached.