Click to read the article
My Best Fiend (1999)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted: 23
Fresh: 18
Rotten:5
Average Rating: 7/10
Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Synopsis: Werner Herzog directed this documentary about the puzzling relationship between himself and actor Klaus Kinski. Beginning with their apocalyptic first meeting at age 13 and continuing through... Werner Herzog directed this documentary about the puzzling relationship between himself and actor Klaus Kinski. Beginning with their apocalyptic first meeting at age 13 and continuing through AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD and their subsequent films together, MY BEST FIEND reveals the deep trust involved in maintaining such a powerful love-hate relationship as the glue that keeps them from following up on their plans to murder each other. Candid and intimate interviews with Kinski's costars are interspersed with rare and compelling behind-the-scenes and behind-the-camera footage from such classic Kinski/Herzog collaborations as AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD and FITZCARRALDO. Herzog himself dryly narrates as the magnetic and destructive energy that resulted when Herzog and Kinski clashed is contrasted with footage depicting their, at times, gentle and brotherly love, in this portrait of two artistic visionaries feeding off each other. From his early days as an aspiring and intense young actor to stints as a ranting and raving performance artist taunting audiences with claims that he was Jesus, Kinski's extraordinary and extravagant persona comes across strongly in Herzog's double-edged love letter of a film. [More]
Starring: Claudia Cardinale, Eva Mattes
Starring: Claudia Cardinale, Eva Mattes
Director: Werner Herzog
Director: Werner Herzog
Composer: Popol Vuh
Get This Movie
Reviews for My Best Fiend
A thoughtful and clever examination by the director of his longstanding friendship and creative partnership with the late Klaus Kinski.
Herzog's and Kinski's collaboration was one of the strongest in cinema, and the movie does justice to that energy.
Kinski's egomania is offered up by a quote of his that the only interesting landscape on earth is that of the human face.
The pairing of the director and actor invariably resulted in extraordinary creative collaborations. These men -- arrogant, ambitious, sadistic, fanatical, and in Kinski's case, probably insane -- certainly deserved each other.
My Best Fiend is Herzog's contentious remembrance of the late actor but, while fascinating, it really doesn't add up to much.
Kinski wasn’t the wrath of God, but he was a damn fine actor, and this documentary so entranced and informed me, that I plan on going out and seeing every one of his films again.
Klaus Kinski was one helluva showman, and no filmmaker was better able to capture the explosive talent of his favourite fiend than the director of this fine documentary, Warner Herzog.
As documentaries go, this one is second-rate, consisting of almost nothing but Herzog sitting in locations at which he and Kinski once filmed and reminiscing.
Even if the guy is the German Marlon Brando, it's hard to sit munching your popcorn as he continually berates his fellow actors.
A genuine love/hate portrait of Kinski that acknowledges his acting talent but doesn't hesitate to capture his notorious behavior.
Herzog offers some evidence of Kinski's great human warmth, somewhat more of his rage of unimaginable proportions, and a good demonstration of Kinski's uncanny capacity to corkscrew his way into the frame.
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.
The film does become a fascinating portrait of the talented but mercurial Kinski.
Related Forums for My Best Fiend
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
|
The Code |
23% 23% |
Confessions of a Shopa… |
39% 39% |
Inkheart |
80% 80% |
Gran Torino |
28% 28% |
Tyler Perry's Madea Go… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
22% 22% |
Push |
12% 12% |
The Unborn |
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- My Best Fiend at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

TIME music critic Josh Tyrangiel remembers - and appreciates - the high peak of Michael Jackson's career in the early '80s.

With the Best Picture Oscar noms now 10 deep, BuzzSugar looks at 10 films that should have made the cut.

Sequels never used to be as good as the original, but now they can be even better. Can Transformers 2 follow suit?

The AV Club's Zack Handlen explores why Snowbeast has been dismissed and forgotten.



Top Critic

