New This Week
Critics & Publications
Archives: A-Z Index
Advanced Search

Upcoming Release Calendar
Awards & Bests By Year
All-Time High Scores
All-Time Low Scores
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Film In Our Forums

sort by name

sort by score

38 12 Rounds
xx Baby on Board
xx Bob Funk
62 Cherry Blossoms
38 Confessions of a Shopaholic
38 Crossing Over
38 Dark Streets
58 Defiance
45 Fanboys
31 Fired Up
37 Forever Strong
34 Friday the 13th
72 Gran Torino
47 He's Just Not That Into You
47 Inkheart
52 International, The
45 Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience
50 Madea Goes to Jail
51 Morning Light
51 My Bloody Valentine 3-D
29 New in Town
28 Nobel Son
40 Outlander
39 Paul Blart: Mall Cop
56 Phoebe in Wonderland
36 Pink Panther 2
xx Powder Blue
69 Revolutionary Road
20 Spinning Into Butter
17 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
64 Thousand Years of Good Prayers, A
63 Tokyo!
74 Two Lovers
56 Valkyrie
91 Waltz with Bashir
22 What Goes Up

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Danielson: A Family Movie
Creative Arson Productions


9.0

based on 6 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 1 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MUSIC:

MPAA RATING: Not Rated

Starring Steve Albini, David Garland, Daniel Johnston, Kramer, Rick Moody, Daniel Smith, Alan Sparhawk, and Sufjan Stevens

Danielson: a Family Movie is a documentary about unbridled creativity vs. accessibility, Christian faith vs. popular culture, underground music vs. survival, and family vs. individuality. The film follows Daniel Smith, an eccentric musician and visual artist, as he leads his four siblings and best friend Chris to indie-rock stardom. (Creative Arson Productions)

GENRE(S):	Documentary \| Musical
DIRECTED BY:	J.L. Aronson
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: April 10, 2007 Theatrical: December 15, 2006
RUNNING TIME:	96 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

LA Weekly Ernest Hardy

Shot on digital and layered with animated segments, performance footage and clips from Smith family home movies, Family Movie unfolds with a gentle, justified confidence in the power of its subject.

Los Angeles Times Michael Ordona

Aronson's film is a fond portrait, loaded with bizarre, haunting music and Smith's off-kilter inspirations.

Chicago Reader Monica Kendrick

Nonfans may be put off by its relative lack of dramatic tension and soft-focus analog video.

Variety Dennis Harvey

There is an undeniable quirky appeal to the creative world of Daniel Smith, though those who hope a behind-the-scenes look will explain his motivation or personality won't find the enigma resolved here.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bill White

One of the strangest things about J.L. Aronson's often fascinating film is the presence of Sufjan Stevens, who recently has become a star in his own right, as Smith's bandmate and protégé. One can only wonder what Stevens, who possesses a pleasant voice and a solid grasp of song craft, found in such a mentor.

The New York Times Neil Genzlinger

This being a film review, the relevant question is whether J L Aronson's documentary about Danielson is worth watching. The answer, for about two-thirds of it, is yes. Though ultimately, alas, the movie has a little too much Danielson in it.

The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 1 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
Its not a perfect film, but it is a lovely portrait of a truly singular artist whose music comes from the heart, and could only be made by him. It is also interesting comparing Danielson's trajectory with that of Sufjan Stevens, who at one point toured with Danielson Famile.

Discuss this movie in our forums

Return to top of page

Danielson: A Family Movie Creative Arson Productions

Danielson: A Family Movie
Creative Arson Productions