Ed Wood (Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Ed Wood (Special Edition)
Movie Review: The Trouble with Suspension of Disbelief
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever heard of "Suspension of Disbelief"? Well, you'll might recognize it when you see the movie, "Plan 9 from Outer Space," a film that's considered by many to be the worst B-movie of all time (though the films by Uwe Boll might change that). It happens when in one shot it's day, but then in the next shot, it's night. It also happens when the shadow of a boom mike is clearly visible in one scene. This may not be acceptable to the general public, but a certain director from the 50's named Ed Wood found it to be a likable philosophy. And he followed it when he created "Plan 9" and other films, which are some of the worst movies ever made.
I'm going to be honest right now: I have never seen ANY of Ed Wood's films. I've never had a chance to watch any of his cult classics, but I always hear about how laughably bad they are. With so many plot holes, visible goofs, and wooden acting, they can only have been made by an eccentric fellow like Ed Wood. Before I saw Tim Burton's "Ed Wood," I didn't know if I would enjoy it as much as I did while watching it. I didn't know if it was going to be an effective comedy, or if I would admire Ed for his passion for creating films of his own. Well, I saw the movie straight through, and I found it to be an effective biography. It shows a lot of sympathy towards Ed when he's struggling to create and finish his films, but at the same time, shows off his odd personality and weird imagination that a majority of people would never connect with. The film itself is shot in beautiful black and white, and the recreations of Ed's sets (as well as 50's Hollywood) seem completely accurate. Johnny Depp and Martin Landau are believable and memorable as Ed Wood and Belo Lugosi. Sarah Jessica Parker, Jeffrey Jones, Bill Murray, George Steele, and everyone else in the film give brilliant performances. The humor may not make you fall on the floor laughing, but I still think it's pretty sharp. As a fan of Tim Burton, I have taken a liking of this movie pretty fast. Maybe it'll grow on me some more after repeated viewing, but for now, I will say that it is one of Burton's greatest, as well as Johnny Depp's.
Grade: A
Movie Review: An amazing opus in praise of optimism and hope
Summary: 5 Stars
Yeah, I admit I give five stars to movies that don't deserve it. But I do it because I like them that much! This movie deserves every star it gets. This is another one of those movies that is practically flawless. This is not only an homage to Ed Wood, but an incredibly entertaining and well casted movie. Johnny Depp is amazing as Ed Wood and Sarah Jessica Parker is the prettiest I've ever seen her.
The movie begins just before Ed makes his first movie while he is a theater director. I don't claim to be an Ed Wood historian so I just have to take their word for it and everything else in the movie. When cross dressing Wood sees that a film about a sex change operation is about to be made, he knows he's the man for the job. Along the way he recruits Bela Lugosi, the first of many strange, eccentric, and otherwise offbeat characters he will star in his films.
When the script is penned he has not written a film about sex change so much as he has written a film describing his life as a transvestite! The shock of learning about her husband's transvestitism along with the fact that he has put their lives up on the screen has his girlfriend fuming. There is a huge strain on their relationship as things progress. She tries her best to remain supportive over looking each trespass, but this gets increasingly difficult.
What I like best about this film is the lesson it tries to convey, that you have to follow your passion no matter the obstacles and set-backs that get in your way. Ed does this and is incredibly rewarded in the end. Also rewarding is the experience of seeing Ed traversing Hollywood with his odd entourage consisting of Bela Lugosi, the massive wrestler Tor Johnson, Vampire, and the rest.
I have seen most of Ed Woods films, but they are far too bad for my tastes. And I watch some garbage films, I just finished the DaVinci Code! The language is a bit strong in area which prevents this from being a film that you can enjoy with your kids, but ultimately I've seen a lot worse.
Movie Review: Dude, Jack Sparrow's a cross dresser?!
Summary: 5 Stars
Oh, he's just PLAYING a cross dresser. Yes, before he donned make-up and shivered our timbers, Johnny Depp played the infamous Ed Wood, the Worst Director Ever (though his films are undoubtedly entertaining), in frequent collaborator Tim Burton's 1993 biopic. The film is definitely one of both Burton's and Depp's best films, as both show great talent here and care for the subject matter.
The film chronicles Wood's many adventures in Hollywood: meeting the incomparable Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau, who won a well-deserved Oscar), losing Girlfriend #1 Dolores Fuller (Sarah Jessica Parker) and getting Girlfriend #2 Kathy O'Hara (Patricia Arquette), and of course struggling to get his films made, like GLEN OR GLENDA? (about a struggle with transvestism and sex changes, which is greeted with laughter by its hopeful releaser, thinking it to be a practical joke), BRIDE OF THE MONSTER (originally BRIDE OF THE ATOM, and a film which took many years to make due to budget issues), and of course PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (considered by many to be the worst film ever made... and probably the most entertaining bad movie ever). The film also shows Ed's many relationships with his frequent cast members like Lugosi, the girlfriends, Tor Johnson (George 'The Animal' Steele), Vampira (Lisa Marie), Criswell (Jeffrey Jones), and probably my favorite character, Bunny Breckinridge (a fabulous Bill Murray), who attempts a sex change in Mexico and ends up with a dead gay lover. In the end, we care for Ed and really admire his undying devotion to his films and friends, and we realize that he can't really be the worst director ever if he has that much imagination and spunk (hear that, Michael Bay?).
The film really has an affection for everyone, and it is that ongoing sense of lightheartedness that makes the film work so much. Of course, it is tragic to see poor Bela dying of a morphine addiction (Landau again earns his Oscar here), but even that doesn't take away from the general fun of watching the movie.
Movie Review: Masterful and Moving; Ed Wood Triumphs
Summary: 5 Stars
We're sometimes tempted to view Ed Wood as a failure. After all, the man was voted the Worst Director of All Time, and his "masterpiece"--Plan 9 From Outer Space--was once voted Worst Film. It makes the character of Wood pitiable, because he tries so very hard, and doesn't see how talentless he really is.
On the other hand...
Wood did (more or less) what he set out to do. He made films. Not only that, but he wrote them, directed them, and starred in them (like his rolemodel Welles). While Mr. Wood is gone, he also lives on; Johnny Depp played him in a film, and people continue to buy and rent his collection. Whether or not Wood was a good director (and he wasn't), he lived his life as he wanted to live it and he found more success than most of us ever will. I think that Ed Wood is a testament to the power of believing in yourself, and never giving up on your dreams no matter the odds you face.
This film presents that story in all of its richness, whether you ultimately find Wood's character uplifting or laughable. Depp is brilliant, like he normally is: have we ever seen him the same in different films (excluding sequels)? After watching Depp as Wood, it's hard to imagine that anyone else would even have been considered. Lots of people have commented on the genius performance of Martin Landau. I'll make one more. Absolute genius. In this movie, Landau *becomes* Lugosi. It feels real, like you're there, watching Bela Lugosi. Incredible. The other roles, bigger and smaller, all come off. Excellent casting, filling the roles up with big-name actors, but never as a gimmick. Even the casting of former pro-wrestler George "the Animal" Steele is inspired. (One of my favorite moments is when Sarah Jessica Parker "acts" in one of Wood's films; nothing like a superbly talented actress demonstrating what poor acting looks like.)
One of Burton's best films. One of Depp's best films. Landau's best. A feel-good triumph. Five Stars.
Movie Review: Unexpectedly sympathetic portrait....
Summary: 5 Stars
It would be the easiest thing in the world to cruelly point and laugh at Z-grade movie-maker Ed Wood. So of course, Tim Burton doesn't do that for this biopic. Instead, we're treated to a more rounded and sympathetic view of the infamous director; he is portrayed as a man who simply loved making films, and who wasn't going to let his lack of talent or money stifle his enthusiasm.
A lot of the credit must obviously go to Johnny Depp, who infuses Wood with an infectious energy and optimism. Despite laughing at his cack-handed attempts at camerawork and special effects, you cannot help but cheer for Wood and hope he can make the masterpiece he aims for. Likewise, Martin Landau provides a memorable performance as the ageing, washed-up Bela Lugosi, giving him a real presence and sense of dignity. There are some excellent supporting roles too, with Bill Murray, Patricia Arquette, and Sarah Jessica Parker turning in strong performances.
Tim Burton really nails the look and feel of the film. It's not just the black-and-white cinematography, Burton really brings out the spirit of Wood in things such as Criswell-style narration and deliberately cheesy opening credits, as well as recreating a number of famous scenes from Wood's films. You get the sense that Burton is genuinely fascinated with his subject, and that he does have respect for Wood's dedication and independence, if not his talent. The film seems to long for a (perhaps mythical) past when film-making wasn't controlled by a handful of Hollywood executives, and anyone with a camera and an idea could just go out and make the movie they wanted.
`Ed Wood' is an inspired take on Wood and his films, and a very memorable one. This is an excellent, under-rated film that ticks all the boxes: memorable performances, fantastic energy, great direction, and most importantly, an unexpected empathy with its subject. Five stars.