My Best Fiend (Mein liebster Feind - Klaus Kinski) (1999)

80% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(5,796 ratings)

This is a film about the love-hate relationship between Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski - utterly puzzling to outsiders - about the deep trust between an actor and a director, and their independently and simultaneously hatched plans to murder one another.

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Werner Herzog
Genres: Documentary, Drama

In Theaters: Oct 7, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Sep 5, 2000
Studio: New Yorker Films

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
My Best Fiend is about two men who both wanted to be dominant, who both had all the answers, who were inseparably bound together in love and hate, and who created extraordinary work -- while all the time each resented the other's contribution.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
What's the difference between artistry and bravado? This isn't a question I generally feel inclined to ask, but I'm compelled by the work of Werner Herzog, who scrambles the two until it's difficult to tell which is which.
J. Hoberman, Village Voice
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Herzog reveals the genius and madness of his best fiend Klaus Kinski.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
It feels a lot more like a cheap shot than a tribute.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Kinski's egomania is offered up by a quote of his that the only interesting landscape on earth is that of the human face.
Jon Niccum, Pitch.com
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.
Shlomo Schwartzberg, Boxoffice Magazine
My Best Fiend is Herzog's contentious remembrance of the late actor but, while fascinating, it really doesn't add up to much.
Oz, eFilmCritic.com
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.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
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.
Dan Jardine, Apollo Guide
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.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jens S

In this very unusual documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog revisits the Peruvian jungle and other locations throughout Europe, where he filmed movies with his long-time protagonist Klaus Kinski. Throughout this journey that mostly consist of interviews with fellow companions and… More
In this very unusual documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog revisits the Peruvian jungle and other locations throughout Europe, where he filmed movies with his long-time protagonist Klaus Kinski. Throughout this journey that mostly consist of interviews with fellow companions and Herzog's unbelievably funny anecdotes about the love-hate relationship with the egomaniac actor. While all that's filmed and presented really calmly and may sound boring for many, it is still full of humor and very interesting insights both into film making and Kinski's personality. There is also some original footage of his tantrums, which is clearly the highlight of this film. The fact that there was more to Kinksi than met the superficial eye is the surprise of this film. And the final scene with the butterfly is so incredibly sweet and beautiful, you actually feel maybe he wasn't such an asshole after all.
Ken S

Kinski is even more insane that you've heard.
Anthony L

The most successful collaboration of actor and director of all time? I think so. Putting the record straight, Herzog shows us the truth behind his best friend who also happened to be an egotistical maniac (and possibly the greatest actor of all time). A beautiful and heartfelt… More
The most successful collaboration of actor and director of all time? I think so. Putting the record straight, Herzog shows us the truth behind his best friend who also happened to be an egotistical maniac (and possibly the greatest actor of all time). A beautiful and heartfelt documentary.
Stella D

L O L what a prick~ i need to watch fitzcarraldo again
Christopher M

A revealing documentary that is highly entertaining, especially if you are a fan of the work of Herzog and or/ Klaus Kinski. They made some fantastic films together and this well designed documentary answers a lot of questions and is at times, very amusing and also very touching… More
A revealing documentary that is highly entertaining, especially if you are a fan of the work of Herzog and or/ Klaus Kinski. They made some fantastic films together and this well designed documentary answers a lot of questions and is at times, very amusing and also very touching sometimes - especially the last image of the enigmatic Kinski handling a butterfly in the jungle. This is the second documentary I've seen by Herzog and its a style he obviously excels at.
Marcus W

This film made me admire Herzog even more. All directors have regular collaboraters, and here Herzog discusses his work and relationship with the tempestuous Kinski. And he isn't afraid to to tell us exactly what sort of man Kinski was, how he was often arrogant, selfish and… More
This film made me admire Herzog even more. All directors have regular collaboraters, and here Herzog discusses his work and relationship with the tempestuous Kinski. And he isn't afraid to to tell us exactly what sort of man Kinski was, how he was often arrogant, selfish and volatile. How Herzog once plotted to fire-bomb his house, and also threatened to Kinski's face that he was going to shoot him. And yet at the end of the day they made five films together - including the classic Fitzcarraldo, and the (far better than the original) remake of Nosferatu. It's when Herzog admits that he "sometimes" misses him and then shows footage of Kinski's softer side that you start to understand their friendship. Unmissable for fans of the two.
Christopher B

Boy oh boy, watching Herzog and Kinski go at it is like watching two rival wrestlers screaming into the mic. Sure they hate each other, but they need each other to co-exist. Like Batman and the Joker, except there is no light and dark... only darkness. Scary, scary darkness.
Wu C

A beautiful love letter to Kinski from Herzog.

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

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