Directed by Werner Herzog Stroszek is both heartwarming and scathing, a film whose innocence wears off over time and reveals a much darker underbelly. It's the story of a simple man, Bruno Stroszek, fresh out of prison and eager to start his life anew. He is without any real prospects (career, romantic or otherwise) and deals … Continue reading Stroszek (1977)
Werner herzog
Triple Frontier (2019)
Directed by J.C. Chandor There's a lot of testosterone in Triple Frontier, a movie about five former Special Forces operatives who hatch a plan to steal millions of dollars from a drug lord. The plan seems foolproof, at least as much as they normally do within the context of a movie, taking place in a sparsely … Continue reading Triple Frontier (2019)
Zama (2017)
Directed by Lucrecia Martel It's hard to know what to make of Zama, at least on a first glance. On the surface it reminded me of movies like A Field in England (2013) and, by the end, Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972) or Fitzcarraldo (1982). These are all movies set predominantly outdoors, in some aspect of the wildness … Continue reading Zama (2017)
Predator (1987)
Directed by John McTiernan Predator begins awkwardly, with cliche-laden, expository dialogue between muscle-bound action stars, but once the story gets going it finds its own rhythm and becomes quite fun. A military rescue team, led by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger), is tasked with rescuing a series of hostages held by insurgents deep within a South American … Continue reading Predator (1987)
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
Directed by Werner Herzog In Aguirre, the Wrath of God, a Spanish expedition travels through the jungle in search of El Dorado, the mythical city of gold. We meet the explorers as they struggle down a narrow trail in the mountains, each step possibly not far from the last. The journey is already treacherous and growing … Continue reading Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
Burden of Dreams (1982)
Directed by Les Blank "If I abandon this project I would be a man without dreams, and I don't want to live like that." - Werner Herzog Burden of Dreams documents the making of Werner Herzog’s Fitzarraldo (1982), an epic shot in the Peruvian jungle. Like with Apocalypse Now this was a long, troubled production … Continue reading Burden of Dreams (1982)
Fitzcarraldo (1982)
Directed by Werner Herzog Fitzcarraldo reminded me of Apocalypse Now (1979) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). Both films concern single-minded obsessions deep in the jungle, and in the case of Apocalypse Now, the troubled story behind the film parallels the narrative, but not quite as much as this Werner Herzog film. Now I don't know the … Continue reading Fitzcarraldo (1982)
Gates of Heaven (1978)
Directed by Errol Morris Gates of Heaven, Errol Morris' first documentary, was destined for obscurity until Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel chose to champion the film, with Ebert putting it as one of his top ten films of all time. Like his follow up, Vernon, Florida, this documentary is composed of a series of interviews with recurring … Continue reading Gates of Heaven (1978)
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