Filmspotting #103: Aguirre: The Wrath of God/Top 5 Screen Parents
Until the release of last year's widely and justifiably praised "Grizzly Man," veteran filmmaker and documentarian Werner Herzog was arguably as famous for the death-defying antics of his movie shoots as he was for the films he actually made. Among the most infamous of these fabled shoots was Herzog's first collaboration with actor/madman Klaus Kinski, 1972's Aguirre: The Wrath of God -- the first film in Filmspotting's six-part Herzog-Kinski Marathon. Alternately fascinating and frustrating, "Aguirre" -- shot on the cheap in the Peruvian jungle -- still has more than enough moments to make it worth recommending. Even more captivating, however, is Herzog's sometimes shocking, always amusing and insightful DVD commentary track.
Also on the show: Listener Feedback and -- halfway between Mother's Day and Father's Day -- our Top 5 Screen Parents.
Music by Wilder Embry.
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Filmspotting #103
:26-13:14 - "Aguirre: The Wrath of God"
13:15-13:42 - Audio Feedback
Music: Wilder Embry, "Bad Case of the Nothings"
14:49-18:22 - Peerflix Contest, Listener-Aberdeen City Meetup
18:23-20:12 - Top 10 Character Actors
20:13-24:04 - Got the keys to Telegraph Road?
24:05-30:59 - Listener Feedback (Religious Movies)
Music: Wilder Embry, "Light Me Up in the Dark"
31:45-44:55 - Top 5 Screen Parents
44:56-46:47 - Next Week/Close
Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send an e-mail or short mp3 clip to feedback@filmspotting.net. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.
3 Comments:
Hey guys! I love the show and am really exited that you have decided to review Aguirre, my favorite movie of all time with Klaus Kinski giving my favorite performance of all time.
My only gripe is that you guys are only doing Klaus Kinski/Werner Herzog collaborations. I really think that you should try Stroszek, which Herzog made with the fascinating Bruno S. In my opinion, it is the only film that Herzog has made that approached the genius of Aguirre.
I agree and have emailed as such. COBRA VERDE is kind of a mess, and the two Bruno S. movies (STROSZEK and ENIGMA OF KASPAR HAUSER) are better than WOYCZEK and NOSFERATU.
and while I love APOCALYPSE NOW, have a poster of it in my office, AGUIRRE is a better movie - it's not hamstrung by a story and therefore gets to the "Heart of Darkness" much clearer than Coppola's more entertaining but more conventional film.
I saw Aguirre right after I heard your podcast. I agree with you guys completely. The film is interesting because of all the behind-the-scenes stories . I agree that Herzog's comments are very interesting as well.
The other movie I've seen from this Herzog-Kinsky marathon is Fitzcarraldo. Since it involves the Peruvian Amazon and people floating on the river, it's inevitable to compare both films. Fitzcarraldo seems like the big budget version of Aguirre. Herzog was a more experienced and mature filmmaker. The screenplay is better (stuff does happen), there's more interesting characters and it is easier to identify with Fitzcarraldo, since he has a nicer "dream" than Aguirre, although he is a selfish S.O.B. (not much different than Herzog and Kinsky).
I enjoyed Fitzcarraldo way more than Aguirre (even Herzog's comments on the DVD are way more interesting... prostitutes were part of the crew and a guy had to cut off his own foot to avoid dying from snake poison). My only complaint is that it is too long.
Keep up the good work!
Lino Coria
Vancouver, BC, Canada
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