MOVIE REVIEW: Grizzly Man (2005)

This is by unofficial request of the mighty Heavy Metal OverloRd.  Click and kneel before his blog of steel!

Grizzly Man has some powerful music so it totally fits LeBrain’s Record Store Tales and Reviews.

GRIZZLY MAN (2005, directed by Werner Herzog)

Wernor Herzog in his inimitable fashion constructed an intriguing portrait of a unusual subject: A man named Timothy Treadwell. Treadwell spent 13 seasons all but alone in Alaska, with the grizzly bears in their habitat.  He filmed them (getting unprecented footage), played with them, and “protected” them from their enemies (man). He got really close to the bears, making physical contact. He befriended them as much as you can befriend an animal in the wild.  He played with them, got amazing footage, but forgot the boundaries that exist between man and beast.  Especially when that beast weighs several times what you weigh, and comes equipped with sharp claws, teeth, and raw strength.  A fatal error of profound misjudgment at the end of Treadwell’s 13th season reminds us all that there are immutable boundaries that are never meant to be crossed. To do so is universally pure folly.

Herzog utilizes Treadwell’s own remarkable footage extensively through the film. Nobody had ever gotten so close to these bears in their natural habitat, and observed and learned their behaviors this extensively. Treadwell knew their individual personalities and habits, but he got too comfortable. Watching these videos of his is both profound and tragic. While documenting his own expeditions, Treadwell sometimes lapses into hysterical rants regarding society and authority, and anyone who he sees as an impediment to his way of living. Clearly, a deeply distressed individual lurks beneath the beatnik exterior of the animal lover and protector.

Treadwell’s undeniably unique passion for bears results in some special moments. I bought this DVD from Joe (I paid $5.99).  He recommended it to me, saying it was “unintentionally hilarious,” and that I would know what he meant when I saw it.

Maybe an hour into the film, I watched Treadwell admiring a pile of bear poop, and I understood.

“There’s your poop!  It just came out of her butt.  I can feel it.  I can feel the poop.  It’s warm.  It just came from her butt.  This was just inside of her.”

A fascinating glimpse at a singular, one of a kind persona, Grizzly Man is another unique Werner Herzog film that looks at his subject with a focused curiosity. Herzog conveys a childlike sense of wonder, tempered by the practical wisdom of a modern adult. As such, despite its dark subject matter and ominous aura, Grizzly Man is entertaining, educational and re-watchable. Herzog wisely avoided any graphic imagery or sounds. An audio tape of Treadwell’s final moments is only discussed and never heard in the film. Once hearing it himself, Herzog is visibly distressed and gravely advises destroying the tape.

I think Grizzly Man is among the best Herzog documentaries.  I watch it a couple times a year.

5/5 stars

Also included on this DVD is a nice feature on the music of Grizzly Man, an important part of its emotional makeup.  In particular the use of the excellent Don Edwards song “Coyotes” is unforgettable.

19 comments

  2. I like Herzog a lot, have seen a lot of his films. Sadly, he couldn’t escape the truth that this Treadwell guy was (sorry to speak ill of the dead) a bit of a moron. He fully knew better. If you think you have a special rapport with wild animals that can kill you in an instant, maybe you need a reality check, not more time hanging out with bears. Got his girlfriend killed too, and she didn’t even want to be there. Stupid. There’s nothing sad about this, it was all preventable and the end could be seen coming from a mile away. Like Into The Wild. Common sense ain’t so common anymore, for some people, and yet we’re supposed to feel bad for them? Nothing against Herzog’s work, I just really had a hard time feeling anything other than disgust with this guy.

    Sorry boys, I am glad that you like it, but from me it’s full disagreement. Any stars in the rating system go to Herzog for doing his best, as always.

    I do, however, fully agree that we should all kneel before the blog of steel. The HMO BOS brings the metal! \m/ \m/

    Like

    Reply

    1. I get where you’re coming from. But to me, you don’t have to like or approve of the man Treadwell to appreciate his footage. Check out the Don Edwards “Coyotes” clip at the bottom there. The footage of the bears running…incredible. Regardless of the man, misguided and perhaps naive too, his videos are incredible.

      But I get what you’re saying and I can’t disagree with any of your feelings because they’re yours and they’re honest and that’s cool.

      Like

      Reply

      1. Yep, agreement to disagree! As I say, you’re welcome to like the film. I can’t deny his footage. The study of animals is lucky to have it. But all that time with them, with no incident, appears to have deluded him into believing what he shouldn’t have, that they had an understanding. He knew they had to get out, that they were staying too late in the season. They didn’t. End of story, and not a wise decision (as proven).

        Like

        Reply

        1. And on that we can totally agree.

          In many ways, I think this can be considered suicide by bear. He told many people that if he died in the field, “It’s what he wanted”. But he did take his unwilling girlfriend with him. And that’s something a lot worse than suicide. I’m sure we agree on this too.

          Like

  3. Grizzly Man is one of favourites. Werner Herzog is a great story teller. I too have this in my doc collection, although it’s so powerful emotionally, I pull it out to watch it every two years or so. I also recommend “Into the Abyss”, another Herzog doc.

    Like

    Reply

        1. Nice! We’re doing a Breaking Bad marathon here this weekend, but I may put on a movie tonight that Herzog didn’t direct, but DID star in, called Incident at Loch Ness. (Hilarious if you have not seen it.) Herzog plays himself. Also recommended and sold to me by the same Joe who sold me Grizzly Man.

          Like

        3. So good! I have a review of that in prototype stage waiting to be polished & published.

          Now here’s the thing — Joe loved it, told me I’d find it funny, and he was right. You have it and presumably like it enough to keep it. But I have yet to show that movie to anybody who “gets” it. Nobody else seems to find it funny, but I’m busting my guts every time. Kal Penn was so artificial in that movie that I can’t help it, I laugh at literally every line he has. Same with the cryptozoologist!

          “They always say ‘where’s the evidence?’ I say, ‘where’s all the evidence that proves Nessie DOESN’T exist?’ You know? Show me the non-evidence. Where are all the books on the non-evidence?”

          Like

  4. Just wanted to add too that I watched the extra bit on the DVD with Richard Thompson et al. When they were trying to perform the main title music…man it was powerful. Almost brought tears to see them perform such gorgeous music for the first time together. I need to locate that soundtrack…

    Like

    Reply

      1. Oh, man, you have GOT to see it. Werner Herzog explains to Thompson in studio that the main theme should “Command – come in strong.” Then Thompson hits those notes with his guitar, and it was pure effing magic. If I find something online I’ll let you know.

        Like

        Reply

Leave a reply to mikeladano Cancel reply