Ed Wood Movie Review 1994

Leave it to Burton to bring to the screen the story of a director many consider to be the worst of all time (he's at least in the top three) and who now occupies a lofty position as a cult icon. In this hilarious and touching tribute to a Hollywood maverick with grade-Z vision, detailed homage is paid to Wood's single-mindedness and optimism in the face of repeated failure and lack of financing, even down to the black and white photography. Depp is convincing (and engaging) as Ed Wood, Jr., the cross-dressing, angora-sweater-wearing, low-budget auteur of such notoriously "bad" cult films as "Glen or Glenda" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space." Depp is supported by terrific portrayals of the motley Wood crew, led by Landau's morphine-addicted, down-on-his-luck Bela Lugosi. Burton focuses on Wood's relationship with Lugosi, whose career is over by the time Wood befriends him. Based on Rudolph Grey's book, "Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood Jr."

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS
Running time 127 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Director/Star Teams: Burton & Depp, Filmmaking, Biopics: Showbiz, Gender Bending, Drug Use & Abuse, Behind the Scenes

Screenplay

Scott M. Alexander, Larry Karaszewski

Cast

Max Casella, Johnny Depp, Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Landau, Bill Murray, Jim Myers, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, Lisa Marie, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ned Bellamy, Conrad Brooks, Rance Howard, Juliet Landau, G.D. Spradlin, Mike Starr, George "The Animal" Steele, Gregory Walcott

Cinematography

Stefan Czapsky

Director

Tim Burton

Music

Howard Shore

Producer

Denise Di Novi, Tim Burton, Casual Pictures Inc., Buena Vista

Awards

Oscars 1994: Makeup, Support. Actor (Landau); Golden Globes 1995: Support. Actor (Landau); L.A. Film Critics 1994: Cinematog., Support. Actor (Landau), Score; N.Y. Film Critics 1994: Cinematog., Support. Actor (Landau); Natl. Soc. Film Critics 1994: Cinematog., Support. Actor (Landau); Screen Actors Guild 1994: Support. Actor (Landau).