Review of The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2006) by Rene R — 30 Jul 2008

Wasn't a fan, before this. I was comming in because I heard it was good movie, in of itself, and it is, it's a great, haunting and hilarious documentary. I dont think Daniel Johnston is the greatest living song-writer, but I can see a definite line of inlfluences that can be traced back to his music and sensibilities, that are important enough.

Whether or not you like his music or art, isn't really the point, it's an amazing story, of love, fame, madness, art, religion, family, and community.

Daniel Jonston was a normal child until junior high, when "he lost all of his confidence", and the onset of his ilness, manic depression(possibly schizophrenia too). Daniel becomes very introverted, but also makes art and lots of it, mostly drawings and albums made by tape recorder(instead of making copies, he would record himself playing each track again, add nauseum). Still alls mostly well, til a bad acid trip at a Butthole Surfers show, brings out the fundamentalist in Daniel(he was raised orthodox, but before this event was never devout), who becomes obsessed with devil, and begins to lose his grip with reality.

It takes a village to raise a child, and an small army to keep Johnstn just alive and functioning, not to mention getting his work distributed(that's where the sense of "community" in this film comes from). It's the story of Daniel Johnston, but we hear it mostly from the words of others(perhaps because he can't discuss or recall much of it).

Though in the end it's more bittwesweet, than tragic, Jonston's still alive, living with his parents, writing songs to a girl he hasn't seen since college, jamming with kids off the street, and of course, fighting off the devil.