Horst_In_Translation Review of Johnny Cash: Hurt

Johnny Cash: Hurt (2003 Music Video)

A defining number on evanescence and fugaciousness

[8/10 · 31 January 2018]

And with that I am of course not talking about the popular band that carries the same name, but about the song "Hurt, permormed here in under 4 minutes by Johnny Cash. I am not really sure if I like his rendition more than the other famous rendition by Nine Inch Nails, but the music video here adds so so much with these old scenes and photos starring Cash, but also showing us the people that had a major impact on his life and it's kinda tough to hold back the tears when hearing something along the lines of If I could start again". Of course, I am biased as Cash is maybe my favorite musician of all time and I could not love him more and regreat the fact more that I never saw him live. This one's here from 2003 by the way, the year that first June and, shortly after, Johnny died. Lets be honest, it was kinda obvious here that he was ready to go too as Johnny looked way older than early 70s and it somewhat makes me sad to see him so weak next to the shots from his young glory. Another somewhat romantic statement really as these two just were made for each other and there is really nothing better you can wish somebody other than hopinbg he'd find his personal June out there somewhere. As for the song, to me it is not one of my very favorite Cash songs to be honest, so I am a bit surprised this has turned into such a career defining number for him, but well if it encourages listeners to check out some of his old stuff from many decades earlier, then I'm all for it. The only two minor weaknesses I could find where the Jesus references (even if these are obviously justified by Cash being a very religious man) and the talking part in the middle that I could have done without. I certainly recommend checking this one out, most of all for the really moving music video by Mark Romanek, a filmmaker I also like on the full feature level and he has an outstanding take on emotion in film as he proves in "Never Let Me Go" as well as in "Hurt". One to remember, don't miss out and I hope it will evoke as many emotions for you as it did for me. Best short film of 2003, I guess we can call it that on a movie website.