Film Review

Ed Wood (1994)

Director:  Tim Burton

Cast: Johnny Depp as Ed Wood, Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi, Sarah Jessica Parker as Dolores Fuller, Patricia Arquette as Kathy O'Hara, Lisa Marie as Vampira, Bill Murray as Bunny Breckinridge, George "The Animal" Steele as Tor Johnson, Mike Starr as George Weiss.

Synopsis: He was a screenwriter, director, producer, actor, author, and film editor of his own horror and science-fiction films. But all of them were low-budget ones. That’s why posthumously he was awarded as Worst Director of All Time.

Review: Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) was trying to join a film company. So having heard about producing the story about Christine Jorgensen's life, he began writing, producing, directing in Casual Company. However, the film shooting was broken down, and Ed started a new one, titled Glen or Glenda, initially conceived under a different name. Unfortunately this one was also failed because of financial problems. But Wood didn’t give up, and meeting a former film star Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau), who acted in his unsuccessful films, started another one called Bride of the Atom. At its premiere the crew was driven out of the theatre, and Ed shot Plan 9 from Outer Space, which actually was normally received by the audience.  

So the film is a bit unusual for Tim Burton, because he seriousness, nevertheless, there is something to laugh at, and this something is a human obstinacy. In fact, this picture has a certain sense, which everyone sees on his own. Thus for me, for example, the meaning is talent. And I think everyone will agree that it’s impossible to start making movies only because you want it, not being familiar with the technique and rules of shooting. But sometimes people are so full of optimism and faith in ourselves that simply don't notice that everything they produce, do no good and no income at all.

This is a biopic film, which tells us the story of a failed career of Ed Wood, whose role fulfilled the incomparable Johnny Depp. His participation proves the fact that just gets used to this role, even his voice, intonation, gestures and mimicry transfer his mood. But, it seems to me, it will be wrong not to note other actors’ participation (especially Martin Landau embodied Dracula so likely), who also gave a special atmosphere to the film. As all of them really got used to the role. And in the role that Burton gave them, and in that which was in the middle of the twentieth century..

All in all, Ed Wood is a very good film, which helps us to understand Edward’s destiny, his life and purpose in it, his priorities. We got to know that Edward really liked movie and shooting and was talented in his own way, and fulfilled his ideas as he could.