The subject of Herzog's film (a film for which he is more editor and narrator than director), Timothy Treadwell, is flamboyant, effusive and interesting enough to have made this a good doc anyway, but Herzog's brilliant use of Treadwell's footage elevates it beyond just that. Herzog has made a film which is part wildlife documentary, part biopic of Treadwell, and part analysis of Treadwell's film-making talent. It's captivating stuff, and more so because the end is so obvious and well known.
Treadwell is such a marvellously watchable screen presence, a camped-up version of Steve Irwin, with girl troubles and a huge desire to be loved. The biopic part of the film is the story of an alcoholic finding purpose in protecting the animals he loves. But Treadwell's devotion to his cause is manic, and the way in which he chases his dream shows (in his own footage) quite how disturbed he was. Count, for instance, the number of times he tells an animal, in his babyish voice, that he loves it - sometimes getting stuck repeating it, like Leo in the latter stages of Scorsese's The Aviator. Herzog shows how Timothy Treadwell the conservationist and "silent warrior" is as much a construct as any part of Treadwell's life was: he changed his name, his appearance, his own backstory. What you're left with is a great portrait of a man driven by obsession, and you're left to work out that the obsession was really with a need to give and receive love, rather than to protect animals which, perhaps, didn't need protecting.
This doc deserves all the plaudits and praise it got; you're hooked even though you know how it will turn out. Highly recommended.