I'm not a raging Johnny Cash fan, but I like his stuff, and I particularly like his Live @ Folsom album. I was really looking forward to a "behind the scenes" look into the making of this album, and going into it I assumed there would be a bunch of archival video from the actual event.
Instead, the film makers delivered a biography of Cash with particular emphasis on his advocacy for prison reform, and how this concert played into that theme of his life. Unfortunately, even this theme wasn't very focused, and it wasn't apparent what point they were trying to get across until well into the film.
It wasn't *bad,* per se, it just wasn't as good as i'd hoped. Perhaps a case of misplaced expectations.
Even more unfortunate is that there were people in the audience who've never heard the album before, and though the album itself is superb, this film doesn't leave that impression with someone not familiar with Cash's work. I think die-hard Cash fans will appreciate this most, while it doesn't really have a whole lot to offer for the common viewer.
Instead, the film makers delivered a biography of Cash with particular emphasis on his advocacy for prison reform, and how this concert played into that theme of his life. Unfortunately, even this theme wasn't very focused, and it wasn't apparent what point they were trying to get across until well into the film.
It wasn't *bad,* per se, it just wasn't as good as i'd hoped. Perhaps a case of misplaced expectations.
Even more unfortunate is that there were people in the audience who've never heard the album before, and though the album itself is superb, this film doesn't leave that impression with someone not familiar with Cash's work. I think die-hard Cash fans will appreciate this most, while it doesn't really have a whole lot to offer for the common viewer.