This is not an easy film to watch and, unless you're a fan of Klaus Kinsk, Independent film and/or the music and story of Nicolai Paganini be warned: this film definitely isn't for everybody.
I have watched almost every movie Kinski has ever starred in: from the early Edgar Wallace films, to the Spaghetti Westerns, the many, many B- and C-grade quickies he appeared in, and still consider his works with director Werner Herzog among my favourite films. The last 'new' movie with Kinski I saw was "Paganini", his final film. Not an easy film to find or to watch and, to one level, the (often) devastating reviews being true: a mess of a movie, almost unwatchable due to the natural light, Kinskis refusal of filming a straight storyline, the odd editing, (seemingly) random, un-simulated sex-scenes, etc.
We've seen Kinski perform "Paganini" before; not the actual role, but the character which the actor bestows upon the violinist: there have been traces of Paganini in "Fruits of Passion", where he plays a character that is similarly haunted by his own satyr-like sexuality. The last time was in "Cobra Verde", Kinskis second-to-last film. "Cobra Verde" had complained that Kinski had turned the character of Cobra Verde into something that was more Paganini.
Speaking of Werner Herzog: in the documentary "My Best Fiend", the director commented, that, during the filming of "Cobra Verde", he felt that Kinski was at the end of his road and that Kinski himself had remarked: "I no longer exist". Even though his performance in "Paganini" carries all the trademarks of a Kinski-performance – manic, passionate, filling the screen with his presence – it is sad to say, that Herzog was probably correct. We cannot help but feel that we're watching a dying man; not just because Paganini himself is on the brink of death, but because Kinski had already spent most of his life-force.
Well, first off, Klaus Kinski, the director, is no Werner Herzog, but to say that Kinskis is as bad a director as Herzog is an actor, would be a little unfair. Kinski had worked with the best and Kinski had learned from the best, but his unwillingness to compromise his vision of the film, makes "Paganini" one man's piece of art – not an artful movie.
It makes one wonder, what this film could have looked like, had it been directed by a "professional": Werner Herzog (who was offered the directors seat but refused), or Stanley Kubrick, for example. As it remains, it's an interesting, even though deeply flawed film.
I wish I could give this film at least 8 points out of 10 – but no, that would be pseudo-intellectual and more befitting a Klaus Kinski fanboy, so I'll have to give it, what it deserves: five points is all I can give.
I have watched almost every movie Kinski has ever starred in: from the early Edgar Wallace films, to the Spaghetti Westerns, the many, many B- and C-grade quickies he appeared in, and still consider his works with director Werner Herzog among my favourite films. The last 'new' movie with Kinski I saw was "Paganini", his final film. Not an easy film to find or to watch and, to one level, the (often) devastating reviews being true: a mess of a movie, almost unwatchable due to the natural light, Kinskis refusal of filming a straight storyline, the odd editing, (seemingly) random, un-simulated sex-scenes, etc.
We've seen Kinski perform "Paganini" before; not the actual role, but the character which the actor bestows upon the violinist: there have been traces of Paganini in "Fruits of Passion", where he plays a character that is similarly haunted by his own satyr-like sexuality. The last time was in "Cobra Verde", Kinskis second-to-last film. "Cobra Verde" had complained that Kinski had turned the character of Cobra Verde into something that was more Paganini.
Speaking of Werner Herzog: in the documentary "My Best Fiend", the director commented, that, during the filming of "Cobra Verde", he felt that Kinski was at the end of his road and that Kinski himself had remarked: "I no longer exist". Even though his performance in "Paganini" carries all the trademarks of a Kinski-performance – manic, passionate, filling the screen with his presence – it is sad to say, that Herzog was probably correct. We cannot help but feel that we're watching a dying man; not just because Paganini himself is on the brink of death, but because Kinski had already spent most of his life-force.
Well, first off, Klaus Kinski, the director, is no Werner Herzog, but to say that Kinskis is as bad a director as Herzog is an actor, would be a little unfair. Kinski had worked with the best and Kinski had learned from the best, but his unwillingness to compromise his vision of the film, makes "Paganini" one man's piece of art – not an artful movie.
It makes one wonder, what this film could have looked like, had it been directed by a "professional": Werner Herzog (who was offered the directors seat but refused), or Stanley Kubrick, for example. As it remains, it's an interesting, even though deeply flawed film.
I wish I could give this film at least 8 points out of 10 – but no, that would be pseudo-intellectual and more befitting a Klaus Kinski fanboy, so I'll have to give it, what it deserves: five points is all I can give.