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2006 |
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Rated: PG for mild
language, and mild violence. |
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Genre: Documentary Music |
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Directed By: Jeff Feuerzeig |
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Running Time: 1:50 |
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Review
by:
Felix Vasquez Jr. |
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Review Date: 5/1/07 |
Special Features:
Deleted Scenes
Sundance World Premiere Featurette
Laurie and Daniel Reunion Featurette
Daniel's reunion with his high school sweetheart Laurie
Legendary WFMU Broadcast Featurette
Cinema of Daniel Johnston
Personal Movies of Daniel Johnston
Daniel's Audio Diaries
Personal recording of Daniel Johnston
Commentary with Director Jeff Feuerzeig and Producer Henry S.
Rosenthal
Sundance Film Festival, Director's Award, Winner, 2005 |
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THE DEVIL AND
DANIEL JOHNSTON
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Daniel Johnston is not interesting enough to
warrant a feature length documentary, but David Fuerzeig manages to
convince us at times that this man is utterly fascinating. Johnston’s
ability to soak up different artistic abilities like a bodily function
ends up becoming some of the most compelling bits of the film as we
watch Johnston learn to draw with ease, and compose albums with a tape
recorder that ended up becoming valued items in the underground music
scene.
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Johnston’s music is entertaining
in some respects, and other times it’s just simplistic
nonsense that I never cared for, but that seems to be the
director’s intent. He wants you to fall in love with Daniel
as many of his fans are, and it’s a hard sell at times.
Johnston is an interesting person only because people seem
to respond to him no matter what he does. He even manages to
sneak his way on MTV and promote himself, and no one seems
to mind it very much. Johnston is an interesting figure in
pop culture, and he’s one you’ll either love or hate. |
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I always say, just because someone is
interesting, it doesn’t mean they deserve a documentary made for them. I
can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen movies based on true stories or
documentaries people felt would be fascinating and really weren’t. I’m
aware of Johnston’s style of music, and I’m aware he has a loyal
passionate fan base, but “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” really isn’t
something that should have been turned into a movie. A manic depressive
musician and artist? How is that suddenly so unique and necessary?
Feuerzeig doesn’t entirely put up a good argument as to why Johnston
should be considered a genius to folks who aren’t fans of his. And he
also doesn’t explain that Johnston just isn’t entertaining to everyone.
Am I suddenly a philistine for not enjoying this or Johnston as much as
his fans? No, and I understood that Johnston just isn’t a person that
will click with everyone. He’s also not interesting enough to feature in
a documentary that uses every resource at its disposal to attempt to
build as somewhat of a martyr, or a god in a human’s clothing. I really
didn’t care either way, and I was just bored with it after the first
hour.
I can’t that say I like Daniel Johnston’s
music, nor can I say I’m a fan, but
Feuerzeig
documentary of his life makes up a nice amount of fodder, in spite of
the presumption that his life would make an interesting documentary.
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