Jim Kobayashi I watched the movie just now, and I got to admit the movie is quite interesting. But As people in the board have been discussing over and over, it is what we usually feel after watching movie, "Do people like DJ"Daniel Johnston"s music because he has a mentally illness?" My thought about this topic is Yes, they definitely do.First of all, I'm not quite a big fan of Lo-Fi music, but I think I have a open-mind to any sort of music and have a confidence to judge any music without slanted view. However, even considering those things, I still can't think his music is way better than the most of the lo-fi or folk-rock artists. and I totally agree with the opinion that "people like him because of his situation and Kurt Cobain's T-shirt." I'm not saying DJ doesn't has any musical talent or any sort because I believe he definitely has, what I want to say is there are much greater or more emotional artists out there in the world, and it is not fair or right that those artists doesn't get a spotlight and people like DJ got one, huge one. But I know music industry is always like this since it started in the first place, and the important thing is this film somehow made me realize it.However only I thing I hate about the movie and DJ himself, his "Art". I have no idea about Art and I know it's not right that people like me judge the topic by my own understanding. But I'm 100% sure his art is Bulls**t and everybody thought like I did. What was it? I would totally believe if people say some kids draw that "peace of art". Does the art suddenly gain artistic value if the artist who draw it has a mentally illness? Art and Music is very similar considering those ambiguous valuation standard, I figured it out that's the reason why I like and sometime hate both of them so much.By the way, like I said in the first the movie is simply good. You can enjoy the movie without any knowledge for lo-fi or folk rock music.

Henry Fields Daniel Johnston's life story is both moving and terrifying. It's so moving to see a person with such a terrible psychiatric condition to become sort of a music legend, to see how people everywhere has come to know him... But it's terrifying as well because all the horrible things he's been through (delusions, nervous breakdowns), he's been through a real hell, and at the end of the movie you barely can help to be moved.Feuerzeig has made a sensitive and respectful portrait of Daniel's life. He's showed us clearly the evolution of Daniel from the day he as born till today: his limitless artistic talent, his hallucinations, his fight against the devil... He also puts clear that there was some people (from the music industry) that tried to use Daniel and after that they threw him like a used plastic bag. Fortunately nowadays Dniel has a peaceful live at his parent's home and he even makes some tour to give his music to people everywhere.Thanks Daniel, and thanks Jeff for showing the world the lucidity of madness.*My rate: 8/10

MartinHafer The first section of the film has to do with the early life of Daniel Johnston as well as his being discovered by the musical world in the 1980s. Most of this didn't interest me at all--especially because I hated his music. When the film tried to convince me of his genius, it completely lost me, as he sounded just awful and hurt my ears (though I do acknowledge that he does have a small cult following who see him as a great genius). He definitely is not nor ever has been "mainstream" and this section of the film was poor compared to the last 3/4 of the film. It just didn't do much to compel the average viewer.However, when it talked about his descent into madness, then the film came to life and became much more compelling. This section of the film was much longer and seemed to be the most important point of this documentary. The impact on Daniel, his family and those around him was profound and very sad to watch.Because of my background, I have additional insight into the psychiatric state of Daniel Johnston during the film. As I watched, I noticed that although the film mentions that Daniel had "Manic-Depressive Disorder" (i.e., Bipolar Disorder), there was compelling evidence that a more correct diagnosis might have been a Schizoaffective Disorder. In essence, this is Bipolar Disorder along with Schizophrenia, as Daniel's behaviors and thinking always have a bizarreness that isn't classic "mania"--where you'd typically see bizarreness mostly during manic stages. He was so disorganized, occasionally hostile and had such bizarre thinking that this seems like the correct diagnosis instead of Bipolar Disorder. His talking about demons and obsession with his own self-styled religion is just plain weird. Additionally, the hospital prescribing Haldol is indicative of a more severe thought disorder. Normally, with a Bipolar Disorder, they would prescribe antidepressants or Lithium--not a severe mind-altering drug like Haldol. Haldol is practically an elephant tranquilizer and patients on it often are somewhat zombie-like--and it's often given to violent and severely psychotic patients in emergency rooms.Late in the film, there was an emphasis on Daniel's artwork--not just his music. Despite many declaring it to be great, I found it fascinating because it gave great insight into Daniel's twisted vision of the world--with drawings of devils, monsters and a man whose head is cut in half (a representation of himself). Did I think it was "great"? No--far from it, but the insight it gave was incredible. And, at times, the claims others made about his greatness seemed a bit like hyperbole (saying he was the equal to Brian Wilson for example).A fascinating film that was well-constructed--using audio tapes, video, interviews and a few scenes of Daniel today. Well made and worth a look.

koali This documentary has an interesting subject- a documentary-friendly one, even, as he taped and recorded a good deal of his life- skillful narrative and style (which blends nicely into the title character's imagery and perception) and possibly even more objectivity that one would expect seeing how the picture seems to be made and feature people who seem to genuinely love Daniel Johnston.If creative genius and madness is a subject that piques your interest, you should see this. If it does not, you should see it too to discover it. It doesn't matter if you find his music irritating (I personally prefer other people's covers of his song- I came across his work via Nina Persson's A Camp project, which featured Walking the Cow- a song that blew me mind)- this guy really should be in the movies.