(2004)3.5Jason BuchananJeff Feuerzeig is a filmmaker with some pretty interesting musical tastes. In 1993, Feuerzeig brought the fascinating tale of little-known band Half Japanese to the screen with Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King. Now, after more than a decade of apparent inactivity, Feuerzeig has returned to filmmaking with a vengeance to tell the tale of the profoundly disturbed musical genius who has strapped on the gloves to literally do battle with his many demons. In The Devil and Daniel Johnston, filmmaker Feuerzeig skillfully manages to saturate the celluloid with the very essence of its compelling protagonist -- and the result is both emotionally exhausting and richly rewarding. Feuerzeig knows well the elated heights to which Johnston has soared and the infernal depth to which the songwriter has fallen, and with this film he allows the viewer to experience both of those extremes firsthand. A tirelessly creative child being raised in a strict Christian home, Johnston found his creativity frowned upon. The older the innovative musician grew, though, the clearer it became that his unique gift for visual arts and songwriting was something that he was simply compelled to nurture at all costs. His early career success hit a disturbing roadblock, however, when after becoming a frequent user of LSD, Johnston began to believe that demons had possessed his family and friends, and were intent on claiming his soul as well. To give any more details about Johnston's strange journey into musical history would be to betray the commendable efforts of the filmmakers. Needless to say, this description of Johnston's life could readily be compared to the tip of the iceberg that sank the Titanic. It's obvious that Feuerzeig has great respect for his subject, and his reverence toward Johnston permeates every frame of the film. Though the director captures all of the magical moments that make a good documentary great, however, it's Johnston's own confessional cassette recordings and faded childhood films that really provide the viewer with a lens to look into the artist's soul. For viewers curious enough to allow the light from that lens to shine back into their retinas, penetrate their brains, and invite Johnston's demons in for a fizzy glass of Mountain Dew, the story of The Devil and Daniel Johnston is as elaborately textured as any majestic tale of rock & roll royalty, and, in the end, twice as tragic.
A decade after wowing critics with his debut feature Half Japanese: The Band That Would Be King, director Jeff Feuerzeig finally delivered his sophomore effort -- a documentary about the life and music of singer/songwriter Daniel Johnston. Using archived film clips and recordings with newly shot footage and interviews, the film paints a detailed and honest picture of the tortured genius. The Devil and Daniel Johnston premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
