Post by wank_herod on Jun 20, 2008 18:40:14 GMT -5
The best filmmaker ever in my opinion, his films are haunting, visionary, romantic, (in the anti-rational sense of the word), created with an obsession that defines just about every scene he's ever filmed. I've watched most of his films numerous times, and grow to love them more with each viewing. There's no doubt that he's not everyone's thing - his films possess a meditative quality - long, stretched out shots that seem to go on forever - mesmerising to some, sleep inducing to others. Often, the character of the landscape in which his films are set is as important as the characters themselves. Here's my 5 favourite Herzog movies, each with a mild spoiler warning, though you can't really spoil a Herzog movie -
1. Heart of Glass - The most beautiful film ever made? Aside from the main character, Herzog hypnotised the entire cast before every scene to give the film the dreamlike quality he was after. Set in a pre-industrial Bavarian village, it concerns the villagers' slow descent into madness as they search desperately for the secret of the 'ruby glass', which disappeared with the sudden death of the one person who knew how to make it. Like much of Herzog's output, it's about many things, depending upon who's viewing it. To me, it's a fable, an allegorical tale about what happens when the one thing you put all your faith in is no longer there. A stunning film.
2. Even Dwarfs Started Small - Maybe his most bizarre film. Dwarfs take over the asylum, then know not what to do with their newfound freedom. A truly unique and riveting piece of surrealism with underlying and profound commentary upon human nature.
3. Stroszek - For the second time, he used 'Bruno S' in the main role, a street musician/bum who spent most of his life in institutions. Bruno didn't really have to act in this role, as it's basically the story of his life - set in Berlin, Bruno is released from a stretch in prison and cannot come to terms with life on the outside. Along with his prostitute girlfriend and Herzog favourite Clemens Scheitz, he travels to America to have a slice of the American Dream, only to find that it doesn't exist (maybe some of you from the US can confirm this? ) An intensly moving film, and a nice, if pessimistic, view of America from a European perspective.
4. Fata Morgana - One of Herzog's many documentaries, and definitely not the film to show first time Herzog viewers - it will more than likely kill their interest for good. Herzog goes into the Sahara Desert to film mirages, and comes away with one of the most absorbing and unique pieces of film ever made. To give you an idea of the film, it begins with about five or ten minutes of planes landing on a mirage-filled runway - exactly the same shot over and over and over again with different planes. You soon forget that they are actually planes as the act of repeatedly watching something begins to mutate what you are actually seeing - are they UFOs? Huge prehistoric winged creatures? You get the idea. This film could be about many things, but for me, one of the main themes is 'Earth seen from a non-human perspective, whether that be animal, alien, or some huge floating Godhead.' One for hardcore Herzog fans, and those that actually do like to watch paint dry.
5. Aguirre, Wrath of God - I couldn't make a Herzog top 5 without including one of his Klaus Kinski collaborations. This is the finest of them. Genius and lunatic, Kinski's wild and fevered performance dominates this film from start to finish. When not on camera, he was terrorising the crew off it. A film about many things...obsession, madness, the quest for power, greed...all things that Kinski knew a lot about.
Any other Herzog nuts out there?
1. Heart of Glass - The most beautiful film ever made? Aside from the main character, Herzog hypnotised the entire cast before every scene to give the film the dreamlike quality he was after. Set in a pre-industrial Bavarian village, it concerns the villagers' slow descent into madness as they search desperately for the secret of the 'ruby glass', which disappeared with the sudden death of the one person who knew how to make it. Like much of Herzog's output, it's about many things, depending upon who's viewing it. To me, it's a fable, an allegorical tale about what happens when the one thing you put all your faith in is no longer there. A stunning film.
2. Even Dwarfs Started Small - Maybe his most bizarre film. Dwarfs take over the asylum, then know not what to do with their newfound freedom. A truly unique and riveting piece of surrealism with underlying and profound commentary upon human nature.
3. Stroszek - For the second time, he used 'Bruno S' in the main role, a street musician/bum who spent most of his life in institutions. Bruno didn't really have to act in this role, as it's basically the story of his life - set in Berlin, Bruno is released from a stretch in prison and cannot come to terms with life on the outside. Along with his prostitute girlfriend and Herzog favourite Clemens Scheitz, he travels to America to have a slice of the American Dream, only to find that it doesn't exist (maybe some of you from the US can confirm this? ) An intensly moving film, and a nice, if pessimistic, view of America from a European perspective.
4. Fata Morgana - One of Herzog's many documentaries, and definitely not the film to show first time Herzog viewers - it will more than likely kill their interest for good. Herzog goes into the Sahara Desert to film mirages, and comes away with one of the most absorbing and unique pieces of film ever made. To give you an idea of the film, it begins with about five or ten minutes of planes landing on a mirage-filled runway - exactly the same shot over and over and over again with different planes. You soon forget that they are actually planes as the act of repeatedly watching something begins to mutate what you are actually seeing - are they UFOs? Huge prehistoric winged creatures? You get the idea. This film could be about many things, but for me, one of the main themes is 'Earth seen from a non-human perspective, whether that be animal, alien, or some huge floating Godhead.' One for hardcore Herzog fans, and those that actually do like to watch paint dry.
5. Aguirre, Wrath of God - I couldn't make a Herzog top 5 without including one of his Klaus Kinski collaborations. This is the finest of them. Genius and lunatic, Kinski's wild and fevered performance dominates this film from start to finish. When not on camera, he was terrorising the crew off it. A film about many things...obsession, madness, the quest for power, greed...all things that Kinski knew a lot about.
Any other Herzog nuts out there?