Grizzly Man is a documentary by Werner Herzog about a man named Timothy Treadwell. Treadwell spent several months of the year, every year for 13 years, in a remote area of Alaska heavily populated by grizzly bears. Treadwell filmed over 100 hours of footage and would tour and speak to school children about the bears he had come to know. All this until he was killed by one of the Grizzlies he's dedicated his life to protecting.
Herzog has compiled Treadwell's footage and watching Treadwell interact with the grizzlies is astounding. While he does not live alongside them or touch them he is in close proximity to them regularly with a surprising lack of aggression from the bears considering their reputation.
What I took away from Grizzly Man more than anything though was the respectful and yet honest portrait of Treadwell that Herzog has created. He does not shy away from showing the footage of Treadwell that makes him look unstable but he also shows many examples of the compassionate side of Treadwell, a man who had clearly pulled further and further away from the "human world" as he called it and escaped fully into a life he created for himself among these animals.
Grizzly Man is a movie I will never forget and is likely the most engrossing documentary I've ever seen.
I put Grizzly Man on my 'Watch It' list and give it the rare, full value rating of $10.
September 12, 2007
Grizzly Man - $10
Grizzly Man is as good as a documentary gets. It is moving, inspiring, truthful, shocking and breathtaking. This movie truly gripped me throughout my viewing of it and for days following.
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9 comments:
this movie looks incredible. that picture of that grizzly is incredible. correction: the grizzly is incredible.
I love this movie. WErner was sitting on a gold mind. I wish he wouldnt have involved himself so much in the narration adn interviews. I would rather have not even heard his voice. I felt even a little manipulated but his preasence. Anyway..I did love this peice though.
sheamus - I like Werner's narration, it took some getting used to but his perspective was the key to the whole movie I think.
Jon - This movie is incredible and not that I condone copyright violations but currently you can see the whole thing in 8 minute chunks on youtube.
I've yet to see Grizzly Man, although I have heard tons about it. Herzog is one of my favorites so this surprises me that I haven't seen it yet. You're review may have pushed me to pick it up later this week.
I'm glad that you enjoyed this movie as much as you did. Herzog is such an idealist in his craft. I agree that his narration is key. I have had a couple of arguments about it, but i stand by it. He tells you so much about his own philosophy of cinema through his comments. If you get the chance you should see more of his documentaries. Little dieter needs to fly is also quite exceptional.
dmcg - thanks, isn't Rescue Dawn based on little dieter? I do need to see both actually.
yes it is. i really wanted to see rescue dawn in the theatre but my asshole friends went without me
Definitely a great movie. Not much I can say that hasn't already been said. I highly recommend "Little Dieter . ." and "Rescue Dawn" Yes, I was one of the assholes who saw it.
I really admire Herzog for how tastefully he put this documentary together, and I also appreciate his own thoughts in the narration. It makes it a more personal film, and yet it still felt more subjective then most documentaries I've seen.
jeff - did you mean to say objective? If so, I agree.
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