Werner Herzog's eccentric personality often overshadows his fantastic filmography, and it becomes a disservice when his stellar work is boiled down to anecdotes of Herzog's quirks. The new documentary “Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer” attempts to provide a better understanding of Herzog through interviews with his collaborators, including notable actors such as Nicole Kidman and Robert Pattinson.
Regrettably, this tribute falls short of capturing the essence of Herzog's passion and commitment to his art, visible from the unusual feat of hauling a steamship over a Peruvian mountain for a film project.
“Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer” is a tribute that goes over a number of Herzog anecdotes without a fresh perspective. It talks about the interesting incidents like how Herzog threatened his actor Klaus Kinski with a gun for a film project, yet lacks context.
Notably, there are seconds of Carl Weathers, Herzog’s “The Mandalorian” co-star, applauding Herzog’s unique 2005 documentary “Grizzly Man.” There are exchanges with Lucki Stipetic, Herzog’s brother and long-time producer, discussing their unique collaborations. While worth a watch for fans familiar with Herzog's work, these interviews may not offer any revelations.
It is understandable for Herzog to have a cult-like following given the interesting character that he is. However, the documentary struggles to capture the mystic aspects of Herzog and his films. A criticism faced by Herzog is the lack of politics in his art, which often feels like experiencing emotional upheavals.
The documentary’s frequent resort to movie clips and loud soundbites does work sometimes due to the harmonious mix of differing personalities showcased. An example being a bizarre transition from filmmaker Wim Wenders stating Herzog’s influence on American perception of Germans, to Carl Weathers equating Herzog to Darth Vader. They may not make much sense, but feel appropriately zany.
However, not all footage in “Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer” seem essential or interesting. For instance, a clip of Herzog’s grandson ski-jumping after scenes from Herzog’s documentary about Swiss ski jumper Walter Steiner feels forced. Furthermore, Herzog's drives around Los Angeles, talking about the city’s appeal of doing what you say, comes across as puzzling.
The documentary’s goal of mirroring Herzog’s traits falls short due to the lack of probing questions for interviewees such as “The Act of Killing” director Joshua Oppenheimer. Also, there could have been more screen time for Stipetic, who offers some of the most amusing insights.
Some audiences might enjoy a random cut to a Henry Rollins interview or hearing stories from “Rescue Dawn” star Christian Bale. However, others might wonder why they're watching a mixed-bag tribute to Herzog, when they could be watching a Herzog film instead.
