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      My Best Fiend

      Released Nov 3, 1999 1h 35m Documentary List
      78% 27 Reviews Tomatometer 92% 500+ Ratings Audience Score Werner Herzog, an iconic filmmaker of German cinema, steps before the camera in this revelatory documentary, in which he focuses on his complicated relationship with his longtime friend and collaborator actor Klaus Kinski. In a lively retrospective of Kinski's life and work, Herzog explores their deep-seated fraternal bond while also confronting the bitter rivalry that raged on during their five film partnerships, during which each vied for dominance. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Kevin L Bipolar much, Klaus? What a pairing. It's consistently clear that Herzog was very likely the ONLY director that could've tolerated Kinski's extremes of personality and behavior. Both men claiming plans to murder the other due to the mania of Kinski, but also the eccentric aspects of Herzog as a director, thankfully neither of them followed through. What resulted is a body of work together that made for some of the extraordinary, compelling cinema of not only the 70's & 80's, but ever. I'm reminded of a quote by Patti Smith where so spoke of the passion between the murderer and the victim. The documentary uses extensive scenes from Herzog and Kinski's films together along with then present-day interviews with cast/crew members from the films. We get further insight into Kinski not only as the raving madman, but also as the 'warm', 'sweet', cooperative actor who played the lead in such great films as "Aguirre: The Wrath of God", "Fitzcarraldo", and "Nosferatu the Vampyre". Fascinating stuff for sure. 3.8 stars Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review mueler k Klaus Kinski is represented as being almost unbelievably awful. A talented egomaniac prone to fits of rage, madness and cruelty. Kinski was already dead when the movie came out and so was not around to provide his version of events. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review georgan g Too long and seemed one-sided. Interesting to see both positive and negative sides of Herzog & Kinski. Needed more of Kinski's thoughts on their relationship. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review david f A great documentary about Werner Herzog's personal and professional relationship with Klaus Kinski, a maniac German actor. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member An engaging documentary about cinema's most intriguing love & hate relationship the friendship & collaboration of Werner Herzog (Internationally acclaimed German Director & Documentarian) & Klaus Kinski (Powerhouse German Theatre & Screen Actor). They made 6-7 films together but both made such an imprint on Arthouse & Commercial Cinema. Kinski famous for a 48 hour rant destroyed a whole bathroom was electrifying on screen. Captures there cataclysmic fights & the end material which was extraordinary. A must see doco on the infamous pair. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting documentary in which Herzog reminisces about his love-hate relationship with the legendary Klaus Kinski and revisits the location of some of their most arduous film shoots. Leaves you in no doubt that Kinski was a genuine fucking nutcase. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      My Best Fiend

      My Best Fiend: Klaus Kinski (1999) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

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      Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: B+ Jan 21, 2012 Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times While My Best Fiend -- does a splendid job of chronicling the high drama and creative pinnacles of their work together, it emphasizes the most public and bleakly amusing aspects of their story. Rated: 3/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle With generous clips from Herzog and Kinski's collaborations, My Best Fiend is one of the great portraits of artists fighting, even with murderous rage, to reach the sublime. Rated: 4/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm ...a deeply personal project. Rated: 3/4 Oct 20, 2023 Full Review Josh Ralske All Movie Guide A thoughtful and clever examination by the director of his longstanding friendship and creative partnership with the late Klaus Kinski. Rated: 7/10 Oct 26, 2007 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Herzog's and Kinski's collaboration was one of the strongest in cinema, and the movie does justice to that energy. Rated: 3/4 May 26, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Werner Herzog, an iconic filmmaker of German cinema, steps before the camera in this revelatory documentary, in which he focuses on his complicated relationship with his longtime friend and collaborator actor Klaus Kinski. In a lively retrospective of Kinski's life and work, Herzog explores their deep-seated fraternal bond while also confronting the bitter rivalry that raged on during their five film partnerships, during which each vied for dominance.
      Director
      Werner Herzog
      Producer
      James Mitchell, Christine Ruppert, André Singer
      Screenwriter
      Werner Herzog
      Production Co
      Werner Herzog Filmproduktion, Zephir Film, Cafe Productions Ltd.
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      German
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Nov 3, 1999, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 17, 2020
      Runtime
      1h 35m
      Sound Mix
      Surround