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When we
realize our insignificance in this world,
it some how relieves the
pressures from society to succeed -
Cindy Bonish 04/07
Grizzly Man
One of the Best Comedies of the Year
Lions Gate Films
When I heard of this
documentary, I thought “What a tragic story!” This is the life story of
Timothy Treadwell, self proclaimed naturalist/filmmaker/grizzly bear
expert, who spent 13 seasons in the Alaskan wilderness studying and
filming these beautiful, deadly creatures.
I remembered hearing about this guy years ago when he was still alive
and making all sorts of headlines for himself. Some called him a whack
job who was fighting the government for protection against the
grizzlies. Others called him a Wildlife Hero who was helping the animal
kingdom with his amazing video footage. I couldn’t wait to see this film
now that it’s out on DVD.
With Werner Herzog narrating the hundreds of hours of amazing film
footage Timothy had collected over the years; the documentary shows a
frightening tale that ultimately lead to the death of Treadwell by the
bears he was trying to protect. I expected to see a documentary that
would change my mind and make me agree with the filmmakers beliefs. What
I saw was what many claimed he was. A whack job who I honestly think did
more harm to the bears he lived amongst for so long.
Timothy Treadwell was able to allow these wild bears to become so used
to his presence while he got footage most filmmakers could only dream
of. What he did in return, was make these wild beasts become used to
human presence, not something you want to do in Alaska or any other part
of the world. Once a bear becomes comfortable with humans, it usually
becomes a nuisance and gets shot or captured due to its erratic
behavior.
Watching this documentary, which I thought was supposed to be serious; I
couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the filmmakers antics. This wanna-be
actor who never made it in Hollywood, loved to be in front of his own
camera. Alone in the Alaskan wild, Timothy sometimes shot the same scene
dozens of times to make sure he got it just the way he liked it.
Treadwell would go off on tangents about the Game Wardens and the
Government with such audacity; you’d think you were watching a scene
from Deuce Bigelow when Rob Reiner takes the woman out with Turrets
syndrome. I’ve never heard so many F-Bombs dropped in one rant!!
Treadwell would sit facing the camera talking to the bears in his
feminine voice in such a way; you have to wonder why he wasn’t locked up
in a mental institute. At one point while Treadwell was sitting beside a
baby fox that had been killed the night before by a pack of coyotes, he
starts yelling at the flies that were eating the flesh like they
understood him? When he says “Have some f-ing respect while I’m filming”
you know he’s gone off the deep end! The film is shot so goofy; at times
I thought it was a knock off from Best in Show, or Waiting for Guffman.
Werner Herzog tries to delve into Treadwell’s life to see what drove him
off into the wild. It’s quite obvious that Timothy is a flaming
homosexual who had delusions with his sexuality. Numerous times in the
documentary he talks about being Gay and how much easier it would be for
him. No straight guy would think that hanging out in a truck stop to
pick up men would be easier then dating a woman, which Treadwell says at
one point in the film.
After watching Grizzly Man, I’d have to agree with Ron White, who
said “This movie is one of the best comedies of the year!” Don’t watch
it thinking you’re going to come away an environmentalist, you laugh to
hard at some fantastic footage of bears in the wild with a nut job
talking in front of them.
Pat
Bonish - Every Miles A Memory
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