Kinski: My Best Fiend

Starring:Isabelle Adjani, Claudia Cardinale, Justo GonzÃ¡lez, Mick Jagger, Klaus Kinski, Eva Mattes, Benino Moreno Placido, Beat Presser, Jason Robards, Guillermo RÃos, Maximilian Schell, AndrÃ©s Vicente
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The six-film Herzog/Kinski boxed set is a sleek compilation of a visionary cinematic collaboration. The history of cinema is dotted with great directors who have found an actor whose face, voice, and style capture that director's point of view: Josef Von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich; John Ford and John Wayne; Martin Scorsese and Robert DeNiro. In 1972, the German director Werner Herzog cast Polish actor Klaus Kinski in Aguirre, the Wrath of God--the result was perhaps the definitive film for both. Kinski had previously made almost 100 films, but his malevolent role--as a Spanish conquistador obsessed with finding gold--shot him into international stardom. Though Herzog and the volatile Kinski were at each other's throats through much of the filming, seven years later the director cast Kinski as the tortured vampire of Nosferatu, Phantom of the Night (a color remake of the silent horror classic) and the title character of Woyzeck, based on the classic expressionistic German play about a jealous, unstable soldier who murders his lover. Both films continued the Herzog-Kinski trademark of intense unflinching emotion and the palpable presence of the raw physical world.

In 1982, Fitzcarraldo carried this ethos to new heights as Kinski portrayed a man who, in order to bring grand opera to the depths of Peru, has a huge steamship hauled over a mountainside using ropes, pulleys, and human endurance. The mad ambition of the film matched that of its hero as Herzog repeatedly placed crew and actors at risk of their lives. Nonetheless, the love-hate relationship between the director and his star carried them into one last film, the uneven but still remarkable Cobra Verde, about a Brazilian bandit sent to Africa to reopen the slave trade. After Kinski's death in 1991, Herzog made a documentary, My Best Fiend, about their decades of collaboration; the result rivals their previous work as a testament to human extremity. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

WOW!.......2007-05-18

The quality of the DVDs is among the best. Picture and sound is great. I had only ever seen "Nosferatu" before getting the set. "Fitzcaraldo" has become one of my favorite all time movies since getting the set. The documentary "My Best Fiend" is wonderful.

Good Value.......2007-02-23

I already had two of the films in this set, "Nosferatu" and "Aguirre", so I looked into buying the others separately. Buying the set was less expensive, so that's what I did and gave the duplicates to the local library. I compared the disks before giving them away, and the ones in set were the same as the individual editions. Highly recommended for Herzog and Kinski fans.

BUY THIS!.......2006-03-03

I can't help but add my voice to the chorus of positive reviews for this set. It is without a doubt the most well put together dvd box set I have ever seen. Even the packaging is awesome. Whoever is responsible for the physical look of this collection should win a product design award or something. All the movies (except Woyzeck) have very entertaining and insightful herzog commentary and most of the movies have english tracks aswell. I'm not sure what restoration was done on these movies but they all look great! I would say that if you are thinking of buying any of these movies alone on DVD just go ahead and opt for the box set. Chances are, if you like and understand the Herzog aesthetic, you will love all of these movies! Cobra Verde, which I once thought was the weakest of the Herzog/Kinski efforts, has become my favorite upon multiple viewings. Could not have a higher possible recommendation!

Kinski, One Of The Greatest Actors Of His Generation?.......2006-03-03

I think that he is, his on screen presence is as powerful as any actor I have ever seen. From the dark ferocity, burning evil of Kinskis portrayal of 'Nosferatu'; without question he is the greatest 'vampire' to have ever graced cinema. To the manic depressive/shockingly haunting eyes of his portrayal of 'Woyzeck' his character in the films name-sake; indeed one of the most troubled yet somehow believeable characters seen on film.

Woyzeck versus Travis Bickle?....that would be an interesting answer.

Outstanding.

A Match Made In Hell.......2005-09-14

It is said that all drama stems from conflict and there was certainly no shortage of it between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski. Their relationship reminds me of a troubled romance that is doomed to eventually fall apart, but ignites with such passion when the two are together that it's more than worth the grief. One would expect an arrangement of this nature to result in one or two films before the rift became so great between director and actor that they could no longer tolerate one another. Yet, there exists an undeniable sense of brotherhood between these cinematic legends that underlies their artistic struggle.

I can't tell you how pleased I am to have this set after all these years. Including "My Best Fiend" in this set is absolutely essential for a complete appreciation of the unique relationship Herzog and Kinski shared. As has been mentioned before regarding the documentary, there is a sense of one-sided storytelling as Herzog lays out Kinski's many flaws. And, yes, one has to wonder just which man had the larger ego after hearing some of Herzog's rather polished explanations. While it would have been nice to have Kinski there to argue his side of the story, it's still a unique and fascinating look into the creative lives of two very different sort of men.

Of the films themselves, I'm most fond of Nosferatu and Woyzeck, but Aguirre, the Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo are truly magnificent epics. I just have to find myself in a particular mood to watch the latter, where the former always hold my attention. In my opinion, Woyzeck is the most overlooked of the Herzog/Kinski collaborations. Certainly Cobra Verde is an inferior film, but it at least has a reputation. Considering Woyzeck was finished in just 18 days with only 27 cuts, I like to think of it as a little miracle.

I've seen Kinski in other films and I've seen works by Herzog without Kinski and it's clear to me that, with a few exceptions, their best work came when they worked together. So, do yourself a favor and pick up this set, then settle in for some intense viewing. And, whatever you do, don't pass on the documentary!

Average customer rating:

Werner Herzog: Every grey hair on my head, I call Kinski.
Calling it a love-hate relationship doesn't do it justice
'People like Brando are just kindergarden compared to Kinski'.
"Impulsive. Unpredictable. Half-mad. He wasn't quite normal"
The kid stays in the picture despite the psychotic outbreaks

Kinski: My Best Fiend
Starring: Isabelle Adjani , Claudia Cardinale , Justo González , Mick Jagger , and Klaus Kinski
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Biography | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Fitzcarraldo
Aguirre, the Wrath of God
Burden of Dreams - Criterion Collection
Grizzly Man
Cobra Verde

ASIN: 6305970955
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Amazon.com

Most people associate the director Werner Herzog with the actor Klaus Kinski--but few know how twisted and enmeshed their relationship was. Though Kinski has made dozens of movies, he probably remains best known for the five he made with Herzog: Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Woyzeck, Nosferatu the Vampyre, Cobra Verde, and Fitzcarraldo. In this documentary/cinematic memoir, Herzog uses clips from these remarkable films, on-the-set footage, and personal recollections to create a portrait of Kinski as both a deeply passionate actor and a raving lunatic; it's hard to say whether he's defaming Kinski or being generous to this mercurial, erratic actor. There's no question that their relationship is fascinating; after their first movie (Aguirre, probably the best of their collaborations) they both described moments of wanting to kill each other--in fact, both agree that Herzog threatened to shoot Kinski at one point, though they differ on the details. Yet they went on to make four more movies, almost all of them under circumstances that would be difficult for the most serene personalities. My Best Fiend was inspired by Kinski's death, and probably the movie's weakest aspect is that we don't get Kinski's side of their friendship. But even though it's one-sided, it's still a remarkable portrait of two artists who were willing to go to extremes to capture their visions. Any fan of either will find this unique documentary indispensable. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Werner Herzog: Every grey hair on my head, I call Kinski. .......2007-03-03

The documentary made by Werner Herzog tells about the legendary love-hate relationship between the director who was ready to climb to Hell for his every movie and border-line insane genius actor Klaus Kinski who might have been one of the creatures from Hell that Herzog had to face. It is hard to imagine two people more different than Herzog and Kinski: "...stone and waves, the coldest ice and hottest flames have more in common, differ less" but they both were driven and obsessed artists. Famous for his wild and ferocious talent and temperament to match, Kinski was incredibly difficult to work with. He wrote about himself, "I am a wild animal born in captivity, in a zoo but where beast would have claws, I have talent". Kinski's talent was fully realized in five films that he made with Werner Herzog over a fifteen-year working period, starting with astounding "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" (1973), and then following with "Fitzcarraldo," "Nosferatu" (1979), inspired by Murnau's silent vampire classic; "Woyzeck" (1979), about a 19th century army private who seems mad to others because he looks and acts so differently from them, and "Cobra Verde" (1988). It is impossible to imagine any other actor starring in these films and they are without doubt the best Kinski ever made (and he made hundreds of films). Thanks to the Herzog's documentary we are able to learn what exactly went on behind the stunning images and unforgettable performances. According to Herzog, "people like Marlon Brando are just kindergarden comparing to Kinski. He is mad and unpredictable." They liked each other, they hated each other, and they respected each other at the same time making plans to murder each other. Kinski, who respected Herzog, and valued his friendship, confessed to the director that in his autobiography he would describe their relationship in not very flattering terms - otherwise, the crowd would not read it. Herzog recalls how they both would sit together at the bench after the shooting and discuss what Kinski would write in his book. I am curious if they discussed and agreed upon the following passage and if Herzog helped Kinski with some of the colorful metaphors: "I absolutely despise this murderous Herzog! Huge red ants should p**s into his lying eyes, gobble up his balls, penetrate his a**hole and eat his guts."

Even after watching the fascinating documentary, it is difficult to fully understand the relationship between two giants but as Herzog admits, the only thing that counts is what we see on the screen and what we see is amazing.

Calling it a love-hate relationship doesn't do it justice.......2007-02-27

Far from being a character assissination & chop job on Kinski (as some reviewers would claim), Herzog's film is as much as an examination of his own obssessive drive and (albeit, much lower key) madness as it is a look back at his relationship with one of the most (by general consensus) difficult & brilliant actors in the business.

Obviously, Herzog regards Kinski as being a nut...but he all but concedes that one would have to be crazy in one's own right to continue to work with such a man, again & again. It would be nice if Herzog would discuss, in a less oblique fashion, his own driving commitment (as evidenced in "Aguirre" and "Fitzcarraldo") which helped to cause this clash of megalomaniacs, but nonetheless, the examination is there for those discerning viewers who choose to see it.

Yes, it would be nice if Kinski could have returned fire, so to speak. It also would have been less frustrating if Herzog had discussed the reasons that he finally decided to end their collaboration after "Cobra Verde." However, in the end, we have to be satisfied with what we got. It is a fascinating little slice of film history worth watching.

'People like Brando are just kindergarden compared to Kinski'. .......2005-11-24

This above quote from Werner Herzog may shock a lot of film buffs, but it goes to show you just how extraordinary of an actor Klaus Kinski was. 'Kinski: My Best Fiend' is a eye-opening and touching look at two visionary artists. The German director Werner Herzog looks back on his experiences with Klaus Kinski. From the time Herzog was 13 years old, when he first met Kinski, to the time of the filming of their last film together, 'Cobra Verde', this documentary is often as haunting and eerie as Herzog's films themselves. They both had a love-hate relationship that carried on until Kinski's death. At the same time, both artist were in awe of each other. Both realized they had exceptional talent and knew they could not create meaningful, artistic work without each other.

"Impulsive. Unpredictable. Half-mad. He wasn't quite normal".......2005-04-23

This brilliant and compelling documentary was directed (and narrated) by Werner Herzog, one of the most creative and original directors of all time. The documentary focuses on one of the best actor/director teams in the history of cinema: Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski. They had an ofen violent love-hate "friendship", each one fueled by inner passions...and demons.

This documentary goes behind-the-scenes with some of Herzog's greatest masterpieces, like "Aguirre: the Wrath of God", "Fitzcarraldo", and "Nosferatu the Vampire", to tell how Herzog and Kinski fought and argued yet somehow managed to complete each of their films together. At one point Herzog threatened to shoot his "best friend" Kinski, and another time he contemplated firebombing Kinski's home. During the filming of "Fitzcarraldo", the native extras actually offered to kill Kinski, who was having many tantrums (one which was actually filmed and is shown in this documentary!), as a favor to Herzog. Herzog was surprised by the offer, and the native chief who made the offer was totally serious.

Yet despite their many violent confrontations, Herzog and Kinski were connected by their deep love of making meaningful movies. Although Klaus Kinski was undoubtably one of the toughest actors to work with, he was always capable (under Herzog's direction) of giving outstanding performances. Yes, Kinski was a little crazy, but so was Herzog (just was "Fitzcarraldo" for proof of that!), yet they were both artistic geniuses. This film also has interesting interviews with women who co-starred with Kinski, Claudia Cardinale and Eva Mattes that show how Kinski usually treated women much better than men.

With clips from his greatest movies accompanied by the beautiful music of Popol Vuh, this is an excellent tribute, if I can call it that, to Klaus Kinski. It is sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, but always powerful. The final scene shows a kinder, more gentle side of Kinski that fans rarely get to see. This documentary is awesome, but I suggest you view the Herzog/Kinski films before watching this so that you'll have a better appreciation for this fine film. This is an absolute must for any fan of Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski!

The kid stays in the picture despite the psychotic outbreaks.......2005-03-29

A grandly entertaining documentary that manages to be savagely funny, nail-bitingly harrowing and oddly moving all at once. Director Werner Herzog does a bit of self-absorbed navel-gazing and a lot of tall tale-spinning in this retrospective of his love-hate artistic partnership with actor Klaus Kinski (Urban legend puts both men literally plotting the other's murder at one time or another). Of course, we all know that "dead men tell no tales", (uh-Kinski did die of natural causes, far as we know) so we have to acknowledge the point-of-view as a bit lopsided from the outset; although to his credit Herzog does consult a couple of Kinski's leading ladies, who seem more willing to recall examples of Kinski's kinder, gentler (and lucid) moments (Most backstage footage of Kinski included shows the actor in "screaming tantrum" mode, which can paint a somewhat one-dimensional portrait.) As some reviewers have said, it does help if you have previously viewed the pair's more mercurial collaborations first, namely "Fitzcarraldo" and "Aguirre, The Wrath Of God", as both projects mirror the pathos and bathos of the real life relationship. Ultimately, the film begs the question: Are any great artists ever "normal" people anyway? From Mozart to Brando, history seems to bear out that when it comes to the creative arts, there is frequently a fine line between "being a genius" and "needing to be locked up". Final scene is an unexpectedly loving and beautiful coda which brought tears to this viewer's eyes. Essential viewing for fans of the director and his muse.

Kinski: My Best Fiend [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]

Average customer rating:

Kinski: My Best Fiend [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: 8386314346

Product Description

In the 1950s, when Werner Herzog was 13, he was sharing an apartment with Klaus Kinski, an ego-maniacal live-wire. In an unabated, 48 hour fit of rage, Kinski destroyed every piece of furniture in sight. From this chaos, a beautiful albeit volatile partnership was born. In 1972, Herzog cast Kinski in Aguirre, The Wrath of God. Four more films would follow. In this personal documentary, Herzog traces the often violent up and downs of their relationship, revisiting Munich apartment where they first met - and thrashed, and the various locations of their films.

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