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Moriarty’s Seen Werner Herzog’s ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD!
Hey, everyone. “Moriarty” here.
I love Werner Herzog more with each passing year.
I love that he’s become an on-camera presence for other people, like in Zak Penn’s very funny THE GRAND earlier this year.
I love that he dedicated this film to Roger Ebert, one of the most tireless champions of the work Herzog’s done over the years.
More than anything, though, I just love the way he views this world of ours, the way he doesn’t take any part of it or any person in it for granted. Herzog may come across like a jaded, heavy-lidded sardonic thug in interviews at times, but that’s just part of his Germanic charm. In reality, his filmmaking demonstrates to me a true sense of wonder. This is a guy who finds this entire planet unbelievable and worth exploring, a guy whose curiosity about people and what happens when they are placed under ungodly stress has led to some of the most fascinating moments of cinema in the last 35 years.
I’m not sure how he ended up involved with Discovery Films, or whose idea it was to send him to Antarctica, but hats off. It’s a great collision of filmmaker and location, and the end result is hypnotic and powerful, playful and strange, and it’s wholly unlike anything else you might see in a theater this summer.
And did I mention that it’s rated G? How cool is that?
In some ways, this film feels more like an Errol Morris film than a typical Herzog documentary. Morris has always been intrigued by the eccentrics in any field, and a big part of this film is an investigation into what sort of person chooses to go work in Antarctica. You have to be wired a certain way to head to the bottom of the world to do a job where you’re going to be cut off from regular society for months or even years, and Herzog’s interviews manage to reveal the inner lives of these very private people.
He’s equally smitten with the continent itself, though, and the scenes of natural beauty that Herzog presents are unusual and unique. Because he’s not a guy who shoots nature films normally, there’s nothing standard or regular about the way he approaches the expansive vistas or the haunting beauty of the secret world under the ice. Large segments of the film are presented without any dialogue, allowing us to get lost in whatever thoughts are stirred up by the sights Herzog presents.
This isn’t a film you need to write fifty pages about, or that you need to analyze deeply in order to appreciate its merits. It’s a visceral experience, pure cinema in places, and a reminder that Herzog is unafraid to push himself or to go anywhere on the planet in pursuit of new images, new faces, and new stories. He’s an example for all of us who believe in the enduring power of cinema, and ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD is an example of just why he continues to matter.
The film's rolling out in limited release now, so check your local listings.
Sorry I had to head for the airport before I finished my reviews this morning. That’s what happens when you’re juggling the kids, the deadlines, and the travel. Something’s gotta give. So tonight’s when I’ll have to catch up, and I should have that HANCOCK and WANTED piece up sometime this morning.
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
Drew McWeeny, Los Angeles
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Third?
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Have u seen it yet Mori and if so when do we get your review.
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It is one of the better portrayals of life on the Ice and the people who work here. It's not just about fluffy penguins.
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Lessons of Darkness and Grizzly Man are my favorites... btw Did I overlooked Moriartys 'Happening' review or there wasn't any?
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Those are some nice, complimentary words but what is the documentary about?
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So it should be called"Thumbs up, Thumbs down"
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The Grizzly Man flick was an interesting goof, but not nearly as interesting as Project Grizzly.
Then I watched this Loch Ness movie he did, which I guess was his attempt at a mockumentary. But it was just dreadfully unfunny and kind of sad. -
yes, 500 or so words will do nicely, eh?
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It's basically an insight to different people who work on the Ice, and a look at what it is like to visit McMurdo Station and the South Pole through his eyes.
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Yes, it's sad to wish you were someone else, but... c'mon, it's Werner Herzog! I'd rather be him than that Facebook kid.
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The Loch Ness thing wasn't Herzog's film.
You're questioning the fascination with Herzog based on exactly one of his films? Do your homework, son. The man has had a long, very distinguished career. He's one of the most iconoclastic filmmakers and interesting creative artists in history. -
What do you recommend that I check out?
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Jun 27, 2008 9:55:01 AM CDT
Trazadone: try, "Aguirre, Wrath of God" or "Fitzcarraldo"
by lanemyersclassic
Both of those films are fascinating.
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Like LMC said, Aguirre or Fitzcarraldo - good introductions to his work. Aguirre was the first movie of his I saw and have been hooked on his work ever since. He is my favorite filmmaker. Of his later works, I've found Invincible to be one his best. You should read up on him a little too. His life and the stories of the ongoings behind the scenes of his movies are just as fascinating as the movies themselves. Watch Burden of Dreams (a making-of documentary in the vein of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse) after Fitzcarraldo, you'll see what I mean.Enjoy.
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about the strange landscape as well as the people that choose to work there. Favorite quote: "I am a linguist on a continent without language" (he works there as a botanist)
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German street-person comes to America. Very funny, sad and disturbing. And no, that's not the correct spelling of the movie, I'm just too lazy to go to imdb.
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I thought The Grand was a disappointing, unfunny, pile of poo.
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... nope. Still haven't seen it. Don't know when I will. It's hard enough to see the things I'm scheduled to see already and spend time working and hanging with my family at all. It's pretty rare that I get to double back to something I missed pre-release while it's still in theaters.
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That film could top The Wicker Man Remake as longest onscreen Nick Cage freakout ever. I just hope they have the good sense to get James Woods in there somewhere so Cage and Woods can share a freakout moment at last.
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I agree about Herzog's sense of wonder. That's also why his movies have that intriguing sense of mysticism and there tends to be almost something religious about them. Capone's interview with Ebert was a good read as almost any interview with Herzog is. Sometimes ...his interesting views and philosophies can be better/more inspiring than the films he's made. What he said about Roger Ebert could very well be said about himself as well. A great soldier of cinema. I can't wait to see ENCOUNTERS. And it would be great to finally watch something Herzog has made on a big screen. Damn thosse not-distributing German distributors...
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Is one of the IT techs that was hanging out in the greenhouse that day. You can read his (very long) review of the film here... www.bigdeadplace.com It is a great site to poke around on to get to see the underbelly of Antarctica.
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Strozcek is the immigrant movie, Woyzeck is the Klaus Kinski movie based on an old play. Both are amazing though.
Anyone else go see Strozcek at Ebertfest? -
Spraying that kid with the hose in Julien Donkey Boy. But I haven't seen the grand, so.
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