I watched it about a month ago and was quite taken with it though I guess that I might have a different take on it because I actually work with the mentally and physically disabled...

I think that maybe Daniel was kind of set up for a fall on a couple of occasions during the the movie, and I found it kinda uncomfortable. I guess that it was 'nice' to get Daniel and Kathy (was that her name?) to meet again, but it kinda seemed that the cameraman and co. were ready (and kinda hoping) for something explosive to happen. When he kept hugging her and asking her to get married I was waiting for some kind of insane incident. It really must have been mind warping for Daniel, and that's not always good. Just imagine how many more people would want to watch this movie if he did something 'crazy.'

I agree with Andrew L. that it was true to Daniel doing the dancing around in the stained t-shirt thing. After seeing the movies from his childhood, it was very much in character... as if he never grew up.

What the hell was with the King Kong thing at the end? No mention of the movie he went to Africa(?) for... Just a home movie of him and his dad goofing around and a reasonably funny interview from a very annoying TV host. Actually, that 'king kong' and 'ghost' clip were the only things that slightly bugged me... It was a bit too drawn out for the sake of Daniel doing something 'goofy for the camera.'

Overall, I'd say that it's a thought provoking movie even for people who don't like his music... or even for those who don't like music at all. He's a very special case were he documented most of his life on multiple mediums and KEPT them. It's an amazing story.

BTW, "1990" was my very favorite DJ album. If I'm in a weakened (drunk, broken up with girlfriend etc.) state, some of those songs can still make me cry.

Not Crap

i recently saw this film. three times. i can't say anything additional to what's already been said.

not crap.

just saw this last week. i thought it was very good, if maybe 15 minutes too long. some really great footage though, some of it uplifting and some of it crushing.

i'm surprised no one has mentioned how much it looked like an Errol Morris movie. i don't really mind considering Morris has made some visually stunning films, but some scenes (the carnival, the tape recorder shots) were practically plagiarism!

NC

154 wrote:i'm surprised no one has mentioned how much it looked like an Errol Morris movie. i don't really mind considering Morris has made some visually stunning films, but some scenes (the carnival, the tape recorder shots) were practically plagiarism!

The only one of his I've seen was Gates of Heaven. That's my excuse. How do you mean, "practically plagiarism"? I'm not attacking you: I'm curious.

Morris hadn't really developed his trademark style when he made 'Gates of Heaven' (it was his first film). watch 'The Thin Blue Line', 'Fast Cheap, and Out of Control', or 'The Fog of War' (all recommended, btw) and you'll definitely see the influence.

hell, the final scene of TTBL is a shot of a cassette recorder playing a confession!

This was a great movie.

Not many people have noted this, but the guy who directed this also directed The Band Who Would Be King, the Half Japanese documentary, which is equally great.

I sure didn't like Gibby Haynes anymore after his segment.

tallchris wrote:I sure didn't like Gibby Haynes anymore after his segment.

really? i think Gibby Haynes is a miserly asshole, and i found that scene kind of endearing. he says he didn't give Daniel LSD, and doesn't do anything else i find particularly objectionable (besides, of course, putting off getting braces for entirely too long).

also, it should be noted that Daniel's LSD use had little to nothing to do with his mental illness. whenever my roommate tells someone about this movie, he always makes a point of saying that "his mental illness was exacerbated by LSD use." that's bullshit. the acid had nothing to do with it: the man was going that direction anyway.

instant_zen wrote:

tallchris wrote:I sure didn't like Gibby Haynes anymore after his segment.

really? i think Gibby Haynes is a miserly asshole, and i found that scene kind of endearing. he says he didn't give Daniel LSD, and doesn't do anything else i find particularly objectionable (besides, of course, putting off getting braces for entirely too long).

also, it should be noted that Daniel's LSD use had little to nothing to do with his mental illness. whenever my roommate tells someone about this movie, he always makes a point of saying that "his mental illness was exacerbated by LSD use." that's bullshit. the acid had nothing to do with it: the man was going that direction anyway.

Exacerbated doesn't mean caused, I.Z. If you're heading in the direction of which you speak, taking acid isn't going to be meaningless. It will exarcebate the heading of things in that direction.

instant_zen wrote:also, it should be noted that Daniel's LSD use had little to nothing to do with his mental illness. whenever my roommate tells someone about this movie, he always makes a point of saying that "his mental illness was exacerbated by LSD use." that's bullshit. the acid had nothing to do with it: the man was going that direction anyway.

How do you know this?

154 wrote:hell, the final scene of TTBL is a shot of a cassette recorder playing a confession!

it's a pretty common device to film a cassette player while audio plays on the soundtrack.

ever seen Unsolved Mysteries?