Too much of everything

How sad is this?

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Daniel Johnston is a singer, songwriter and artist from Austin, Texas. He is brought up in a religious family. He starts getting notice. When MTV comes to town, he barges his way onto the scene. He becomes a known underground artist and then discovered to be manic depressive as his disturbing behavior gets more noticeable.This documentary uses a lot of home videos and personal testimony from Johnston. It gives a slice of a mad mind. It's a little sad no matter how one feels about Johnston's work. It's too straight forward structurally. In the beginning, it's his childhood but the movie doesn't explain who he is. There is no real drama here. He's a disturbed man with loving parents, fans and some talent.

This, the story of the very living and breathing Daniel Johnston, is a well-made shot at capturing the spirit of his work until 2005, when the documentary was made.Even if you haven't heard his music, or even if you don't like it, this is a remarkable person and makes for a bigger film than most sci-fi can lay claim to.Johnston started making music while living in his parents' basement. His mother berated him with not being a good Christian while he drew, painted and filmed with unrestrained zeal, and suddenly he started playing the piano and writing lyrics. He released his own music on cassette and started getting known.At the same time, his mental problems started surfacing; he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has gone through major periods of manic behaviour, often connected to visions of The Devil.His songwriting is monumental, and this documentary follows him well through bouts of creativity, friendship, his One Love, his relationship with his mother, working with other musicians, his long-standing job at McDonalds and his incarceration with mental institutions.This documentary provided me with a peep-hole into everybody's soul, not just Johnston's. He's a lovable guy

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.

Go to iTunes and listen to the collected works of this genius. To compare him -- as was done in the film -- to Bob Dylan, is total nonsense. His early work sounds like Howard Stern. This person is no more interesting than three other people down your street, down every street, in every town. This is much to do about nothing...I actually sat through this lame film from end to end and then listened to every song this guy recorded, along with multiple version by real musical artists. There is NOTHING there. Watching this movie is liking watching all of your home movies over your life, and picking out the few really clever moments, then proclaiming you have witnessed genius. In that sense, we all have some genius in us. Perhaps that is the point?!?