The Devil and Daniel Johnston

10/10 would recomend!!!

He is Captain America, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Mountain Dew’s biggest missed ad campaign opportunity, and one of the greatest singer-songwriters of our time. Daniel Johnston is a Texas-born folk musician and artist who suffers from manic depression. In The Devil and Daniel Johnston, writer and director Jeff Feuerzeig explores how Johnston’s life and work is affected by his condition. Feuerzeig takes us on a journey into Daniel’s tangled mind by expertly weaving together interviews, performance footage, and an exhaustive library of mixed media self-documentation. This film is a brilliant example of interviews done right. Each interviewee is introduced into the narrative with their relationship to Daniel. The most frequently interviewed being his parents (a sincere elderly couple explaining how they did the best they could). They are interviewed in spaces that feel natural to the story such as their home and often have accompanying images relevant to what is being said (like the Number 9 christmas ornament). Often endearing, but other times harrowing, these interviews offer a step back to other’s perceptions after being in Daniel’s mind. This insight is provided by a massive web of tape recording, home videos, and sketches with which he documented his experiences. Feuerzeig makes sense of this jumble and pieces together a narrative within which we can see not only the highs and lows of his illness but also his overriding downward spiral. It is this extensive self-documentation that makes Johnston such an interesting subject, and quite frankly, makes the film. Had there not been so much material from Johnston’s “library” to work with, there would be no film. Respecting this fact, Feuerzeig is careful to not impose too much on us while sharing these tapes and videos. For instance, when playing a tape recording, the only image onscreen is the tape playing in a clear front cassette player showcasing Daniel’s doodles on the tape. Jeff Feuerzeig also nimbly handles the inclusion of Johnston’s music and performance. He samples both recent concert footage and retro footage of some of Daniel’s first performances. Through these we see Daniel’s increasing difficulties with his depression, but also his increasing confidence on stage. In contrast to his early days (he was shaking like a leaf!), the more current footage shows him grinning as he conducts the audience in singing “Devil Town”. This is a very unique documentary about a very unique artist. On a path paved with sketches, recordings, home videos, and interviews, Jeff Feuerzeig takes the viewer on a journey into Daniel Johnston’s illness, art, and life. (Be sure to stick around for the credits. It’s the aftertaste you’ll want to have.)

This is one of THE BEST documentaries you will EVER watch IN YOUR LIFE!!!! It defines the term “Tortured Genius”. The remarkable story of Daniel Johnston will take you on an emotional journey that will leave you exhausted, but satisfied.

Just do it.

The Devil And Daniel Johnston truly is a special movie about the mind of america's most weird singer.

I was fortunate to attend a performance of Daniels in Austin. It must have been a festival on campus of some sort. No artist compares to the absolute awe of DJs ear for music. This documentary does a fantastic job of letting you feel as I did in the audience that day. Those who new him sang along immediately, by the time his set was done and this movie is over..... you will be too. Your life will change when you see the amazing mix of Daniels fun personality, unique music and his life living with mental illness. Young and old alike, all music types, EVERYONE - This is a must see.

Saw this in 2006 and have watched numerous times since...engrossing and epic every time still. Daniel is a genius and I think he owes much of his ability to his mental illness. You can literally feel the pain and raw emotion in his music and lyrics, and set to pictures in the film it becomes that much more powerful and will touch your soul! Daniel is his art in everything he does

luv'em

_-_ (") / v\ \ =`+./ | | \ ( ,\ / | | \ -----——/ | _\ vivivi / _ <__ •. .• __> \ / ____

"The Devil and Daniel Johnston" is an excellent documentary about a musician I'm ashamed to admit I was unfamiliar with prior to seeing this movie. Like many troubled artists it is difficult to determine where his madness ends and his work begins, but Daniel Johnston is unquestionably a singular, albeit esoteric, voice in music. As expected the doc pretty much follows Daniel's life chronologically and I found myself both inspired and distressed by his story and music that have influenced so many musicians.