My wife and I love docs of all sorts and this one did not disappoint. The story is fascinating, and thanks to Johnston's self-absorption there is plenty of material to make it such a true story. Johnston is an engaging character. His history is engrossing and his illness is tragic and curious. The trouble I have with this doc is how people perceive his product. His music is terrible. If I had seen him perform live I would swear he's making that garbage up as he goes along. I don't want to pick on him. Though I do want to pick on all those out there that saw Cobain wearing his shirt and suddenly regarded this poor troubled man as a musical genius. I have great respect for avant-garde and experimental music. I am a huge fan of Mike Patton and Morphine's The Night and many artists that challenge the listener. Johnston is not a genius but is surrounded by people who want him to be one. Everyone wants him to be Van Gogh and everyone wants credit for seeing the brilliance in his childish work. The truth is he is being exploited by his "fans" rather than supported by them. For all my criticism about his music and art I loved this film and if you get a chance see it.
Review of The Devil and Daniel Johnston
