Forgotten dreams: is Werner Herzog’s brand overshadowing his work?

It used to be that a new movie by Werner Herzog was an anticipated event; these days it’s more of an “Oh, another one”. Herzog sure seems to be churning them out. His latest, Family Romance, LLC, is his sixth feature in four years. Pretty impressive for a 77-year-old, but as well as the worry that he is spreading himself too thinly, is there a danger that Herzog is becoming a brand?

It is almost sacrilege to suggest such a thing. The German director is a living legend, and one of the most admired, adventurous film-makers ever, but there is a feeling that Herzog the personality is beginning to overshadow Herzog the film-maker. Partly this is a result of high-profile acting gigs in Star Wars…