The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2006)

The Worst Film Ever

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

What can I say other than this is one of the most entertaining, powerful, poignant, and, all in all, GREAT documentaries I have ever seen (and I've definitely seen quite a few). Everything about 'The Devil and Daniel Johnston' is executed perfectly. In terms of editing and structure and pacing and even camerawork and cinematography it is far and away superior than your average non-documentary. And, if there ever was a fascinating subject to spotlight in a documentary, it's the legendary Daniel Johnston, whose story sounds like much taller a tale than it really is. It's all true, and much of it sounds like legend. Johnston is portrayed sympathetically, his music is praised (as it should be), but there is also heavy focus on his own extreme mental illness(es) and how his complex and challenging manic-depressive state has infected his life in a way that produces great art and great suffering, but Johnston's life story isn't depressing either. It's funny in parts, too, and heroic and happy in others. It's intense and haunting and ridiculous and inspiring and it's all true and it all focuses on the story of an artist like no other. An artist whose talent gladly continues to only grow in popularity and public awareness, an artist who's none other than Daniel Johnston.

Daniel Johnston's life story is both moving and terrifying. It's so moving to see a person with such a terrible psychiatric condition to become sort of a music legend, to see how people everywhere has come to know him... But it's terrifying as well because all the horrible things he's been through (delusions, nervous breakdowns), he's been through a real hell, and at the end of the movie you barely can help to be moved.Feuerzeig has made a sensitive and respectful portrait of Daniel's life. He's showed us clearly the evolution of Daniel from the day he as born till today: his limitless artistic talent, his hallucinations, his fight against the devil... He also puts clear that there was some people (from the music industry) that tried to use Daniel and after that they threw him like a used plastic bag. Fortunately nowadays Dniel has a peaceful live at his parent's home and he even makes some tour to give his music to people everywhere.Thanks Daniel, and thanks Jeff for showing the world the lucidity of madness.*My rate: 8/10

This documentary has an interesting subject- a documentary-friendly one, even, as he taped and recorded a good deal of his life- skillful narrative and style (which blends nicely into the title character's imagery and perception) and possibly even more objectivity that one would expect seeing how the picture seems to be made and feature people who seem to genuinely love Daniel Johnston.If creative genius and madness is a subject that piques your interest, you should see this. If it does not, you should see it too to discover it. It doesn't matter if you find his music irritating (I personally prefer other people's covers of his song- I came across his work via Nina Persson's A Camp project, which featured Walking the Cow- a song that blew me mind)- this guy really should be in the movies.

My wife and I love docs of all sorts and this one did not disappoint. The story is fascinating, and thanks to Johnston's self-absorption there is plenty of material to make it such a true story. Johnston is an engaging character. His history is engrossing and his illness is tragic and curious. The trouble I have with this doc is how people perceive his product. His music is terrible. If I had seen him perform live I would swear he's making that garbage up as he goes along. I don't want to pick on him. Though I do want to pick on all those out there that saw Cobain wearing his shirt and suddenly regarded this poor troubled man as a musical genius. I have great respect for avant-garde and experimental music. I am a huge fan of Mike Patton and Morphine's The Night and many artists that challenge the listener. Johnston is not a genius but is surrounded by people who want him to be one. Everyone wants him to be Van Gogh and everyone wants credit for seeing the brilliance in his childish work. The truth is he is being exploited by his "fans" rather than supported by them. For all my criticism about his music and art I loved this film and if you get a chance see it.