Thursday, September 21, 2006

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON


entry under construction...

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON (2005, USA, Jeff Feuerzig)

Roger Ebert: "THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON shows us a life of accomplishment and achievement, ringed around with sadness, dampened by drugs both prescribed and not (bad acid trips didn't help), and supported by parents who the film characterizes as "fundamentalist," as if that led to Daniel's troubles. It looks to me more as if Johnston's parents are the luckiest thing that has ever happened to him, as they care for him on his good days and his impossible ones."

New York Times reader "borschtt": "Johnston's parents may be mere "Church of Christ" members, but they exhibit an intelligence, sophistication and love for their son that ultimately sets the framework of this film."

DANIELSON, NEW YORK DOLL, IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL, STEVIE, BROADWAY DANNY ROSE

Coming September 26 to Videomatica

CT Movies: Interview with director Jeff Feuerzeig; "As far as Christianity, I learned a great deal. I learned that The Church of Christ is a very hip church. It's the only church I've ever been in where there's not one Jesus or cross on the walls; there's no symbolism. And the congregation sings the entire service together. Daniel comes out of that tradition, and he's actually recorded a few of those songs from church—like Careless Soul, which is on his gospel album, titled 1990.... The Church of Christ saved him—that and his family's faith have kept Daniel alive to this day. I believe his parents' faith has given them the strength to do what they have done—still taking care of him today. They have a deep understanding of manic depression. They're always up on new medicine, constantly searching for new meds for Daniel. He's on a cocktail of five different things a day. His dad takes his blood sugar, pricks his finger, checks his blood every single day. His dad gives him his meds because Daniel won't take his meds without his dad giving it to him. I think it's incredible what they've done."

"Hi, How Are You" - official Daniel Johnston website
"Artist, singer, songwriter and pilgrim of indie music with 30+ albums, hundreds of songs, and dozens of fans."

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