Weekend of Rockumentaries

I am Trying to Break Your Heart: a black and white film that documents the drama of making of Wilco’s landmark album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Band members get fired, pretention abounds, record labels make stupid decisions, cigarettes are smoked and suddenly you have an even greater appreciation for an album that you already thought was pretty decent. The highlight is watching Jeff Tweedy and his son play imaginary drums on the Wilco tour bus. Award: Golden Globe

The Devil and Daniel Johnston: the story of one of the craziest and most interesting figures in modern music. Daniel Johnston rose to fame by playing eccentric songs in Austin; his tape “Hi, How are You” is a self-recording of quirky songs that still resonates with a cult following. The film is not just a fascinating story but it is really a tribute to Johnston’s parents, who have supported their son through various mental institutions, artistic ventures both successful and not, and bouts of mania and depression. Johnston is an artist in the truest sense of the word and you get sense that he really can’t function in any other capacity (even if it means living in his parents basement well into middle-age). And you gotta respect that. Award: Oscar.