My Father And The Man In Black (2013)

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I knew this film was a "tell all" about the relationship between Johnny Cash and his only manager, Saul. Headlines suggest it revealed behind the scenes details like Cash's proposal to June on stage in London, Ontario. Salacious details about Johnny Cash's remarkable career are as good as this film gets............ Two aspects did not sit well with me. Jonathon Holiff's discovery of his absent father leaves out more than it tells. We learn where Saul was when Jonathon was born (on tour) but what was Saul's relationship with his mother? (who is only mentioned in passing, never interviewed on screen). His brother? Did he provide financial support for his family? (At one point we learn that Saul earned $300,000 per year and preferred to fly 1st class, which suggests he was more self absorbed than protective of his family). Towards the end of the film, Jonathon suggests that Saul's difficult relationship with Johnny was because Johnny was antisemitic. Excuse me? The director throws this speculation out based on the fact that Johnny cast Saul as a Jew in his self-made film in Israel. That's pretty thin gruel, and Holiff never interviews the Cash family. Time to wrap up. Saul was not the "Supermensch" Shep Gordon, & Jonathon is definitely not Mike Myers.

This inspirational film makes compelling viewing as the story of the impact on the lives of effected by the erratic behavior of Johnny Cash is played out. Jonathan Holiff, the son of Saul, manager of Johnny Cash who was air brushed out of history, picks up the pieces following the premature death of his father by suicide. The resentment Johnathan felt after a life of emotional estrangement from his dad is tempered as he discovers the interminable pressure inflicted on Saul by the erratic, reckless behavior of Cash. The film is moving in a way you perhaps wont realize as the drama plays out but which will have you re-examine your relationship with your father / son and the results might not be as you would imagine. Compelling viewing.

Excellent movie!!! Even if you are not a Johnny Cash fan or a music fan, you will enjoy "My Father and the Man in Black.". It tells the "rest of the story" about Cash that goes beyond the film "Walk the Line." Although told in documentary style, the movie is spellbinding and dramatic and weaves between the story of a difficult and sometime strained father and son relationship to the little known story of Cash and his longtime manager, Saul Holiff. The movie uses actual recordings of conversations between Holiff and Cash to set up an incredible tale of Cash's rise to stardom, his relationship with June Carter, his battles with addiction, his Christian faith plus his stormy relationship with Holiff.

I saw the documentary when it was shown in London, Ontario. This is a very captivating documentary which gives great insight into the man behind Johnny Cash. I came away with a new appreciation of what it takes to be a manager in the entertainment business. This is a film which shows the struggles and the sacrifice and the hard work. So much went into the making of this film and the result is great detail and very professional work. From the opening scene to the very end this film will hold your interest. I believe it is a very important piece of entertainment history. I highly recommend this documentary. You will not go away disappointed.