On E List of Movie Reviews

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Ed Wood (1994)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 4/05, 11/07, 10/10

EdW
11/07: Ed Wood is an unusual feat because it's not about a great director but the worst director who had ever lived.

Another unusual feat is it's among the first of its kind when it comes to making a movie about a movie director. I regard Tim Burton a very, very creative person, but I hate how he'll destroy his film at the three quarter mark. But this time, Ed Wood is a constant enjoyment from start to finish and is probably the only picture of his I can fully enjoy.

Johnny Depp gives one of the best performances of his career as the eponymous director. He has a beautiful scene when he said, "This is the one. This is the one I'll be remembered for" during the premiere of Plan 9 from Outer Space. Well, that's an accurate statement. Moreover, I love Johnny Depp's reaction when his eyes lit up as if he just discovered plutonium or he yelled, "Cut! Perfect!"

But the heart of the film is Martin Landau as Béla Lugosi. The sympathy he brings to his character, even after how he's reduced from a horror icon to a dope addict, is beautifully portrayed. That's why Martin Landau won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Aside from the two, Sarah Jessica Parker is miscast and has the personality of wood. I love the supporting thespians, especially Jeffrey Jones and Bill Murray. They're funny guys.

One fantastic scene, although it never happened in real life, is when Ed Wood, Jr., met the great Orson Welles and there's Vincent D'Onofrio's uncanny resemblance to Orson. Although black-and-white pictures are rare during the 90's, the cinematography of Ed Wood is attractive and can compare with the pre-50's pictures.

All in all, Ed Wood is the best picture Tim Burton has ever done.

10/10: Ed Wood is a nice-looking black-and-white picture, allowing me to get know to the worst director of all time, Edward D. Wood, Jr., and how he came to be so.

Johnny Depp gives one of the finest performances of his career. Hands down, the best part is Martin Landau as Béla Lugosi who steals every scene and has many terrific lines.

All in all, Ed Wood is worth watching for many reasons with the chief of them all: Martin Landau's Oscar-winning performance.