Ed Wood - A Movie Review

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"Ed Wood" was released in 1994. It's a biographical comedy-drama movie written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski and directed by Tim Burton. The movie was well received; but it did not do well at the box office. It did receive two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Martin Landau, and Best Makeup for Rick Baker. CAST Johnny Depp - Ed Wood Martin Landau - Bela Lugosi Sarah Jessica Parker - Dolores Fuller Patricia Arquette - Kathy O'Hara Lisa Marie - Vampira Jeffrey Jones - The Amazing Criswell Bill Murray - John "Bunny"Breckenridge Ed Wood is the worst director of all time and king of the "B" movies. It's 1952 and Ed Wood is trying to get into the movie industry. Wood wants to direct a film about Christine Jorgensen's life (Jorgensen changed his sex from male to female), since he feels a kinship because he's a closeted transvestite. However, it's impossible to buy the rights to Christine Jorgensen's life; so producer George Weiss changes it to fiction. Weiss doesn't want to use Wood because he has no experience. In the meantime, Ed meets Bela Lugosi; and they become friends. Wood convinces Weiss that having a star like Lugosi would sell tickets. Truth be told, however, is that Lugosi is a drug addict and long past his prime; but Wood never sees him like that. Weiss and Wood argue over the subject matter and the title. Weiss has a poster made up with the title, "I Changed My Sex"; but Ed changes the title to "Glen or Glenda" (see picture above) and writes about a transvestite instead of a sex change. Wood's method of directing is different than anyone else's: He usually only has one take because the first one looks good to him, regardless of any problems or mishaps, he gives very little direction to the actors and he extensively uses stock footage to fill in the gaps. Johnny Depp and director, Tim Burton, hit Ed Wood's character on the head. Wood is always happy regardless of the situation; and his oddball cast looks perfectly normal to him. Tim Burton wanted this movie to be in black-and-white; and I totally think it works. I'm a connoisseur of really bad movies, especially science fiction; and I love Ed Wood. He brought us the really bad "Glen or Glenda" and the humorous "Plan 9 From Outer Space". This movie covers a lot of aspects of Ed Wood's life and career; and you get to know what he was like as a person. I highly recommend this movie. See it at least once. This movie is rated R. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons