Review of The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2006) by Dale M — 02 Nov 2007
The first time I heard Daniel Johnston was about thirteen years ago when I swapped cds with a friend of mine. I swapped my copy of Westing (By Musket And Sextant) by Pavement for Daniel Johnston's Fun album. At the time, I wasn't aware of his condition and I haven't heard his celebrated cassette releases but I was convinced that this guy was something.
Being a local hero in Austin, Texas and having worked with the likes of Jad Fair, Kramer and Sonic Youth (his songs were also covered by a lot of artists - The Pastels covered his "Speeding Motorcycle" for one), Daniel Johnston was destined for greatness. He knew and he believed that. But his struggles with depression and his erratic behaviour has kept him out of the limelight and in the shadows.
The documentary makes effective use of Daniel's home movies and audio recordings as it presents this very complex film. It's a heartbreaking story and there are many moments which will touch you and move you.
This review of The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2006) was written by Dale M on 02 Nov 2007.
The Devil and Daniel Johnston has generally received very positive reviews.
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