Movie Review Friday -- Grizzly Man

Escape to the movies with one of our Movie Friday selections. Each week we review a film with environmentally or socially-responsible themes that’s currently in theaters or available on DVD.

Seen a good eco-flick lately? Send us a review of 100 words or less and look for your review in the next Movie Friday!

Grizzly Man (2005)
Available on DVD

In 2003, Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend were killed and consumed by a grizzly bear in the Alaskan wilderness. Prior to this gruesome end, Treadwell had lived among the bears for thirteen years, recording over a hundred hours of intimate video footage. Though Treadwell was a passionate activist, critics argue that these close quarters may have done the bears more harm than good. Indeed, the animal that ate Treadwell was ultimately shot for his infraction. Werner Herzog's mesmerizing documentary approaches the ordeal with restrained inquisitiveness. Archival footage of Treadwell's bipolar mood swings and naive, childlike love of bears begs a judgmental analysis, but Herzog opts not to air the juiciest footage--the audio recording of the deadly attack. It is this omission that ultimately grounds and humanizes the story.  

--Review by Della Watson