The article is hard to read, paywall notwithstanding, and tells us very little about Herzog's book other than that the critic didn't like it.
I really appreciate Herzog as an artist. I think Grizzly Man is a unique piece of art, and Herzog's commentary is an integral part of it - original, and very worth listening to.
Tonight I was planning to watch either Fitzcarraldo or Aguirre after having listened to Herzog on the Freakonomics podcast earlier this week. But after hearing about the book there, I was really put off by some of the things he said and concluded that the book would be a hard pass for me. Nothing persuaded me that he had anything interesting to add - neither rationally, nor aesthetically - about a topic which has been extensively covered by very diverse thinkers throughout the millennia.
> But after hearing about the book there, I was really put off by some of the things he said and concluded that the book would be a hard pass for me.
What are some of those things? I am not trying to be snarky, I like Herzog and I am curious.
One thing to keep in mind is he views documentaries are fiction almost. They are not supposed to be taken in as pure information or facts. Treat it like you’d treat any movie.
You said you liked Grizzly Man. Well there you can tell the reason he put in the coroner in there and he told him to “act” and the extra long pauses after the scenes are there to add awkwardness. It should be obvious what is going on.
If you are thinking about reading that book, consider the audio book that's read by Werner Herzog himself. I really enjoyed that one, not necessarily because I agree with everything but because I enjoy listening to his voice.
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[ 421 ms ] story [ 50.2 ms ] threadI really appreciate Herzog as an artist. I think Grizzly Man is a unique piece of art, and Herzog's commentary is an integral part of it - original, and very worth listening to.
Tonight I was planning to watch either Fitzcarraldo or Aguirre after having listened to Herzog on the Freakonomics podcast earlier this week. But after hearing about the book there, I was really put off by some of the things he said and concluded that the book would be a hard pass for me. Nothing persuaded me that he had anything interesting to add - neither rationally, nor aesthetically - about a topic which has been extensively covered by very diverse thinkers throughout the millennia.
What are some of those things? I am not trying to be snarky, I like Herzog and I am curious.
One thing to keep in mind is he views documentaries are fiction almost. They are not supposed to be taken in as pure information or facts. Treat it like you’d treat any movie.
You said you liked Grizzly Man. Well there you can tell the reason he put in the coroner in there and he told him to “act” and the extra long pauses after the scenes are there to add awkwardness. It should be obvious what is going on.
Herzog wagers that if his colleague produces "Gates of Heaven," Werner would eat his leather boot.
https://letterboxd.com/film/land-of-silence-and-darkness/
After I watched it, I now believe it's among his greatest works (I've watched all of Herzog).
Really worth a watch if you want a peep into how crazy the "ordinary people" around you could be.