Review of The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2006) by Rowan N — 13 Feb 2007

Fantastic documentary about the legendary Texas singer-songwriter with the warbly voice and stunning lyrical imagery, whose advanced mental illness caused his burgeoning career to implode almost before it started.

An inspiration to Kurt Cobain and other prominent songwriters, Johnston's music sounds like nothing we've ever heard before -- raw and bold, yet defiantly lo-fi and intimate in a way few performers can manage.

Parallels to the lives of Brian Wilson and Syd Barrett are unavoidable, with Johnston himself coming off as both dangerous and well-meaning; he spouts hardcore, zero-tolerance fundamental Christian beliefs, and assaults his manager with a lead pipe, but also agonizes over whether he'll be able to take care of his parents in their old age.

A great film, full of the most unique music I've heard in years.