Review of The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2006) by James C — 18 May 2009
"The Devil and Daniel Johnston" was a very enjoyable documentary. I won't say that I don't think Johnston is a creative genius. He is. I have always thought his drawings were cool, but to be honest I just don't like his music.
Still, the footage of him performing in Austin, in tears halfway through a song, was heartbreaking. Uncomfortable, yes. But there's a lot of uncomfortable viewing here. Some of it wasn't even in the film itself, but could be found in the Special Features.
The reunion of Daniel with Laura is so awkward that it's painful to watch. I recommend this DVD to serious music lovers, but will also say that "You're Gonna Miss Me", a film about Roky Erickson that shares much in common with "Devil and Daniel Johnston", is much better.
This review of The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2006) was written by James C on 18 May 2009.
The Devil and Daniel Johnston has generally received very positive reviews.
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