This film is answers the age-old question, "what would a Herzog documentary look like if taken the way of Spinal Tap?" That's right, after decades of stunning works and intimate studies, Herzog has finally gone and made (or at least involved himself in)... a Mockumentary.
I caught this on the Canadian Documentary channel the other night and was floored by Herzog's famously dry wit, and the utter ridiculousness of the film itself. It's essentially a Herzog project where all pretense of objectivity is supposedly embedded within one film crew as it studies the workings of yet another in the creation of a second Herzog documentary. This documentary is a study of the "Loch Ness" phenomenon, one aimed at taking Herzog's incisive wit (superb UFO quote in the beginning of the film) and great eye to the people involved with, and the history of the subject. OK, straight forward enough. But when a series of events begin to cripple the production, Herzog and his merry band are ultimately drawn into a situation even murkier than the depths of the lake they're studying...
Typical film class issues like Herzog's use of truth vs. the lies implicit in film are given a tongue-in-cheek treatment as the two crews begin to bicker and expose one another, and recurrent themes like Herzog vs. big boats (Fitzcarraldo) are made light of and just as quickly thrown about the wayside, alongside any semblance of reason or prudence. What is left is a fascinating exploration of what a funny sense of humor Herzog has, I mean, who else could include a cameo by Jeff Goldblum, the crew of a boat searching for a mythical fish, ridiculous matching jumpsuits, and clever references to Jacques Cousteau without incurring the wrath of Wes Anderson? Oh, yeah, this film also features brief, albeit fitting, appearances by Crispin Glover and Yucca roots. Genius!!!
I caught this on the Canadian Documentary channel the other night and was floored by Herzog's famously dry wit, and the utter ridiculousness of the film itself. It's essentially a Herzog project where all pretense of objectivity is supposedly embedded within one film crew as it studies the workings of yet another in the creation of a second Herzog documentary. This documentary is a study of the "Loch Ness" phenomenon, one aimed at taking Herzog's incisive wit (superb UFO quote in the beginning of the film) and great eye to the people involved with, and the history of the subject. OK, straight forward enough. But when a series of events begin to cripple the production, Herzog and his merry band are ultimately drawn into a situation even murkier than the depths of the lake they're studying...
Typical film class issues like Herzog's use of truth vs. the lies implicit in film are given a tongue-in-cheek treatment as the two crews begin to bicker and expose one another, and recurrent themes like Herzog vs. big boats (Fitzcarraldo) are made light of and just as quickly thrown about the wayside, alongside any semblance of reason or prudence. What is left is a fascinating exploration of what a funny sense of humor Herzog has, I mean, who else could include a cameo by Jeff Goldblum, the crew of a boat searching for a mythical fish, ridiculous matching jumpsuits, and clever references to Jacques Cousteau without incurring the wrath of Wes Anderson? Oh, yeah, this film also features brief, albeit fitting, appearances by Crispin Glover and Yucca roots. Genius!!!