'The Devil and Daniel Johnston' paints a haunting portrait
by Bob Townsend

Musician and artist Daniel Johnston has had plenty of famous admirers — including "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening and Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain, who wore Johnston's trademark "Hi How Are You" T-shirt at the 1992 MTV Music Awards. Recently, Mary Lou Lord's cover of Johnston's cracked ditty "Speeding Motorcycle" was featured in a Target commercial. And currently 14 of Johnston's unsettling, cartoonish drawings are on display at the Whitney Museum's 2006 Biennial in New York City. You don't need to know all that to appreciate "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" — director Jeff Feuerzeig's haunting, darkly humorous history of the harrowing life and times of Johnston, who has suffered from manic depression since he was a teenager. But it does help. Read the full review

TO SUM UP
A documentary portrait of talented and tormented Daniel Johnston, a singer, songwriter and artist who has endured a lifelong struggle with severe manic-depression. Johnston's work earned him minor fame on MTV and the admiration of a variety of famous artists, including "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening and Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain.

FILM FACTS ...
Sony Pictures Classics
'The Devil and Daniel Johnston'

Director: Jeff Feuerzeig
Cast: Daniel Johnston, Mabel Johnston, Bill Johnston, Kathy McCarty, Jeff Tartakov
Run time: 110 minutes
Release date: March 31, 2006
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, drug content, and language including a sexual reference.

On the web
Official movie site
View the trailer
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READ THE REVIEW

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A-
"What emerges are compelling sounds and images of the convoluted journey of a tortured soul."

Austin American-Statesman: 4 of 5 stars
"Throughout this wonderful film, we see the giddiness and weariness of the compulsive artist and those around him."

The Palm Beach Post: C
"There is something oddly compelling about The Devil and Daniel Johnston."


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