In doing so, I have three words for you: WALK THE LINE. You should know up front that all the hype about this film is actually well-placed. Rather than a movie about the life a country music star, it's a moving biopic about an enigmatic genre-bending artist and the early days of rock 'n' roll. As it sheds profound light on the first half of rockabilly star Johnny Cash's life, this movie also introduces us to striking portrayals of his legendary wife June Carter Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and others.

As one who's read most of Cash's biographies, and is practically obsessessed with the man's relationship with God, I'm here to tell you this movie took great care to reflect history. Some will consider the next thing I'm going to say to be a criticism of the film. It's not. Here's the deal: While Christianity is a subtle and recurring theme from the very beginning of this movie, in the end, the film merely serves to foreshadow the deep faith Cash would come to have in the second half of his life. While they could have focused more on his early and complicated relationship with God, and I wish they had, I'm left feeling grateful for how much Hollywood DID give us.

Take it from me, GO SEE THIS MOVIE. Most of your favorite artists already have. I mean, if you send out a call for Johnny Cash fans, CCM's already discovered you'll get an avid response from Chris Tomlin, Third Day's Mac Powell (who has a son named John Cash Powell), Steven Curtis Chapman, Jars of Clay's Dan Haseltine, Sara Groves, Pillar's Rob Beckley, Larnelle Harris, Amy Grant, OC Supertones' Ethan Luck, John Tesh, Paul Colman, Bonnie Keen, The Elms' Owen Thomas, Alathea's Carrie Theobald, Bob Kilpatrick, Switchfoot's Jon Foreman and, well, you get the picture.

So get in line...and Walk the Line.

Happy Thanksgiving comrades,

Jay

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