Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston forces its viewers into asking the question: “What is art?”. It’s a question that you’d think could be easily answered, but it’s really quite a riddle. A movie documenting the life of Daniel Johnston is forced to grapple with this issue…either you view Johnston as a freak or as a genius, I suppose there’s some middle ground but not much.

For those of you who don’t know who Daniel Johnston is, a short game of catch-up is in order. Arguably Johnston hit his commercial peak around the time that Nirvana did in the 90s. Kurt Cobain used to sport one of Johnston’s shirts in his television appearances and photo shoots. As people sought out the creator of the shirt, they discovered an eccentric artist who made his mark in Austin, TX. He wasn’t just a paintbrush and easel artist, he was also the creator of the strangest, most unique music ever to make it’s way onto a homemade cassette tape.

Johnston’s story begins in West Virginia…in the home of what might be described as fundamentalist Christians. Johnston couldn’t handle it, he ran away from home, joined the circus, and ended up stuck in Austin, TX. “Joining the circus” might be considered an interesting storyline for most people’s biographies, but amidst the craziness of Johnston’s life story it fades deep into the background. It’s a story that involves manic depression, a plane wreck, LSD, a healthy dose of demon discussion, Casper the friendly ghost, Sonic Youth, and an old lady so terrified that she was willing to jump out of a two-story window and break both ankles. …of course, I can’t go too deep into anything…it’s best that I don’t spoil all of the documentary’s surprises.

It’s a fascinating documentary, though. Johnston tape-recorded or video-recorded almost his whole life, so the movie’s creators (Jeff Feuerzeig, Henry S. Rosenthal) were able to provide an amazing picture into Johnston’s actual life. These detailed observations aid the movie in two ways. One, it’s incredible to hear Daniel’s late night tape-player ranting and to see Sonic Youth searching New York for a missing Johnston. However, when this detail is stripped away from us…for example, when the elderly lady jumps from her window…our minds are plunged into an imagination of the situation that may be worse than the actual scenario, or it may be an easy interpretation of the events. The not-knowing is somewhat haunting.

The Devil and Daniel Johnston tackles a difficult project. How do you tell the story of Daniel Johnston without overshadowing the music which he’s become famous for? I believe that the creators succeed by showing how the music mirrors Johnston’s life. Instead of telling two different stories they show us that only one story exists. In case you’ve never heard Johnston’s music….well, it’s impossible to describe…my best attempt is to ask you to picture a weirdo in the basement pounding a beat on a make-shift organ and belting out lyrics that might get overlooked on a third-grade poetry bulletin board…and, picture a third-grader’s voice, except different, as though, perhaps the sounds were stuck in a blender with gravel and glass.

On first listen, your average radio listener is going to think that they’re hearing a joke. They’re going to think…this is the worst thing ever to make its way out of two speakers. But, upon repeated listens, you realize that “only one story exists”. Johnston’s life is his music. If art is opening up your soul for all to see…if we listen to music to hear people strip away all the layers of pretension, callousness, and baggage that the rest of us can’t get rid of…then, Johnston is an artist like no other. His music comes from a place deep down that few if any musicians are capable of finding. Johnston’s music challenges you, but eventually offers rewards.

A movie like The Devil and Daniel Johnston supports the genius of Johnston’s art by showing how true to Daniel’s life his music actually is. The music is wacky, because the artist behind it is wacky.

Of course, there’s always another option. Maybe Daniel Johnston is a big joke. Maybe his music is truly horrible and all of the folks who have jumped on the ‘Daniel Johnston is a genius’ bandwagon need some kid to shout out “The Emperor isn’t wearing any clothes”.

No matter what your take on Johnston is, The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a movie that is sure to have you talking and thinking. It’s one of the most memorable movies I’ve seen and whether you watch it to stretch your thoughts on manic depression, music, demons, or art…I can practically guarantee an invigorating follow-up discussion as you place the DVD back in its case. Whether Johnston is a genius, a freak, or both…that, I’m not so sure of.

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Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD