Salt and Fire (2016)

Has legendary film maker Werner Herzog forgotten how to make fiction films? In his over a decade long abstinence from fiction where he focused on a hip documentaries, has he lost his ability to infuse passion into narrative film making? His last two outings, the Nicole Kidman snorer, Queen of the Desert, and his latest, Salt and Fire, seem to indicate so.

The plot sounds intriguing enough. An envoy of ecologists arrive on behalf of the UN to investigate an environmental disaster (reminiscent of Herzog's recent documentary subject) only to be kidnapped by a powerful CEO of a "conglomerate." There is potential for fascinating political intrigue and edge of your seat action. But Herzog eschews all of this for a series of rather boring talking heads moments. It is remarkable how little passion he imbues in his characters as they discuss the world and the meaning of life.

The film is remarkably short and perhaps that is why the film feels like he rushes his characters into a dialogue about their personal lives that feels jarringly unnatural. He films his characters against incredible backdrops yet sucks all the excitement of those vistas by making it to boring to listen to them. He already made his volcano documentary but here he seems intent on making it again in fiction form. So he has his characters just discuss it.

Shannon and Ferres are both excellent actors but they don't do anything here but speak plainly. The kidnap scenes start out tense, showing signs of some energy, but all of that tension feels sapped rather quickly so that Herzog can get to his monologuing. The uncomfortably beautiful score doesn't save the film any more than the lovely backgrounds. It ends up being boring talk. The documentary is more successful in highlighting the issues, and more entertaining.

But the real problem is how nonsensical the film ends up being. Never is there a logical reason for the abduction. And the film falls into a silliness near the end which can't be overcome. It makes you wonder what you've watched, and why?

Salt and Fire
Starring: Michael Shannon, Veronica Ferres, Gael Garcia Bernal
Writer/Director: Warner Herzog