Essentials: Ed Wood

Year: 1994 (USA)
Genre: Drama/Biography
Directed: Tim Burton
Stars: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, G.D. Spradlin, Vincent D'Onofrio, Bill Murray, Mike Starr, Lisa Marie, George 'The Animal' Steele
Production: Touchstone Pictures

There have plenty of director/actor partnerships throughout the years. John Ford had John Wayne whom called him Pappy; Martin Scorsese had Robert De Niro to help define his artistic talents and the obsessive Werner Herzog had the equally unbalanced Klaus Kinski. But if any partnership typifies the dynamic in today's modern Hollywood it'd be the peculiar Tim Burton and heartthrob Johnny Depp. Over a twenty year association the two have made eight films together from the much celebrated Edward Scissorhands (1990) to the much maligned Dark Shadows (2012) with seizures of creativity in between.

Pictured: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter and Tim Burton
about to start a wicked threeway

Arguably the best film the two have ever made together was the little seen early ninties film Ed Wood (1994). The film depicts the life and times of Edward D. Wood Jr., a film director commonly dubbed the worst auteur who ever lived. Since his passing, his paltry eight full feature films have become the stuff of legend, finding fandom among schlock-horror fans and sci-fi film buffs who laugh at their cheapness and incompetence. His opus, Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959) includes ineptitudes from switching daylight to night in seconds, plainly visible film equipment and priceless lines like "Inspector Clay is dead, murdered and somebody's responsible." 

Ed Wood's script is written by oft writing collaborators Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski who subsequently wrote The People Vs. Larry Flynt (1996) and Man on the Moon (1999). Clearly they have a talent and enthusiasm for writing about oddballs. Their script lays the foundation for an intimate portrayal of Wood and his loyal band of misfits. It's solemn yet offbeat and quirky leading to some inspiring moments, many of which involving Johnny Depp and Martin Landau's infamous Bela Lugosi. There is one scene where the heroin addicted former horror star contemplates suicide aiming a pistol first at himself then at his good friend Ed. "Buddy, I don't know if that's such a good idea" says Wood. "If you give me the gun, I'll make you a drink. What are you drinking?" "Formaldehyde," says Lugosi. "Straight up or on the rocks?"

Johnny Depp once described his characterization of Ed Wood as a mix between Ronald Reagan and the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz (1939). The man's optimism in the face of rejection drives the film with the quickened pace of an energizer bunny. His wits are matched by the supporting players which include Bill Murray, Jeffrey Jones, George 'The Animal' Steele, Patricia Arquette and Sarah Jessica Parker who can only swallow the fact Wood is a hack for so long.

Hey everyone, Meet the Munsters!

The real draw of course is Martin Landau whose interpretation of Bela Lugosi, the original Dracula (1931) is astounding. It isn't mere impersonation which, lets face it, everyone has an impression of Dracula; no its pure stagecraft. His stellar performance ranks in this writer's mind as possibly the best and most accurate depiction of a real personality ever put to film. Landau would go on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and God bless him for that.

The movie is shot in black and white which might deter some viewers. Yet for those who ever wanted to reward themselves with a gratifying story about the foibles of filmmaking, or amerce themselves in Z-Movie lunacy watch Ed Wood. It exhibits shrewd writing by seasoned professionals and features some top-notch performances including one of the best Depp has ever committed to celluloid.

Final Grade: A