Ed Wood (1994) Critique

               Tim Burton’s 1994 film “Ed Wood” is one of those films that received a following from lovers of films and those who love making films, and that’s no surprise. “Ed Wood” has a ton of heart, charming humor, brilliant casting, and is over all a pretty dang good movie to boot. The film details the true story of Edward D. Wood Junior (played by Johnny Depp), a man who dreams of becoming one of the great film directors like that of Orson Wells. Unfortunately Ed’s enthusiasm and childlike excitement for film making doesn’t make him quality “grade-A” director material and he receives the title of “World’s Worst Director”.The film details how he received his first job as director of the infamous box office flop “Glen or Glenda” in which he also performs as the main character, Glen, who is a cross dresser and by the end of the film changes his sex. He continues by self producing and directing his next film “Bride of the Monster”, another critically panned film with a hilariously fake looking squid. Finally, the film ends with Ed and his friends attending the premier of his most infamous film: the cult classic “Plan 9 From Outer Space”. During his misadventures he befriends Bella Lugosi (played by Martin Landau) whom at this point in his life was an unemployed morphine addict. The two share a friendship and Ed casts Bella in all his movies until Bella’s death. Other people Ed befriends in the movie include Vampira a failed television horror hostess, Chriswell a phony television and radio psychic, Tor Johnson the unintelligible Swedish wrestler, a group of Baptist priests who are shocked by Ed Wood’s antics, and so many more. While the plot of the film may be slightly embellished when compared to the real story of Ed Wood’s life, the spirit of what kind of a person he is lives on in the movie and shines through.

               One of the greatest aspects of the movie is the casting of both Ed Wood and Bella Lugosi, played by Johnny Depp and Martin Landau respectively. Before it became a laughable cliché to have Johnny Depp star in every Tim Burton film, he shines as the always optimistic Ed Wood. It’s said that the wife of the real life Ed Wood visited the film set while the movie was still filming and as soon as Johnny Depp walked on set and started to go over his lines, she said to Tim Burton “That’s my Eddie!”. Ed Wood is the underdog of this story. You want to see him achieve his dreams and you sympathize with him. He has such an honest love for film making to the point where his excitement to make a film gets in the way of making the movie good, which is tragically hilarious. Now as for Martin Landau as Bella Lugosi; If one did not know that Martin Landau was under all that makeup, one would honestly think the real Bella Lugosi had risen from the grave to perform in front of a camera again. Everything from the look, voice, and mannerisms all seem 100% like the real authentic Bella Lugosi. Both characters are what really make the movie work.

 

               The movie also has a brilliant and unique look. The first thing one will notice is that the entire film is in black and white, obviously to recreate the look of most films released during Ed Wood’s time. Also during the scenes where we see Ed Wood directing one of his infamous films, the sets, costumes, and props are lovingly recreated to almost match the real Ed Wood films one on one. There is a video on Youtube which puts scenes from the movie Ed Wood and scenes from one of Ed Wood’s films side by side to compare them. Even the first scene you see is a loving reference to Ed Wood’s films. It begins in an old haunted house where Chriswell rises out of a coffin and gives a cryptic warning to the audience asking if they are brave enough to witness the story of Edward D. Wood Junior. This references both “Plan 9 From Outer Space” where Chriswell gives the audience a cryptic warning about how “shocking” this film is, as well as well as Wood’s later films like “Orgy of the Dead, a snuff film where Chriswell narrates the events of the film.

                Another great touch is the use of music in the film. The score by Howard Shore, also famous for his excellent work on composing the music for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, is wonderfully quirky and perfectly emulates the film genre’s Ed Wood tried to make. However, there are two particular tracks that add a whole new level of heart to the film. During scenes where something tragic happens to Bella Lugosi, you’ll hear “Swan Lake” playing. This is important because “Swan Lake” also plays during the main titles of “Dracula” starring Bella Lugosi! The other track is the main theme of Ed Wood’s film “Glen Or Glenda?”. This tune is heard whenever something romantic or triumphant happens with Ed Wood and becomes his own theme in the movie. The main instrument that plays from beginning to end that also leaves the biggest impression is the Theremin. It’s inclusion in “Ed Wood” is genius since no better instrument exists that better emulates the cheap B sci-fi films from the 50’s than the Theremin.

               There could not possibly be a better pick for director for this film than Tim Burton. Tim Burton always has a theme a social outcast in his films, like “Batman”, “Edward Scissorhands”, or even his short film “Vincent”. He is such an eccentric film maker and his style seems to fit “Ed Wood”. The best part Burton’s directing is that it doesn’t feel like he’s trying to shove his signature style in your face. Only in one scene where Ed goes on a date with his future wife do you get see something that looks like what you’d expect to see in a typical Tim Burton film. The scene takes place during a carnival where Ed and Kathy go into a “spook house” where the roller coaster vehicle they ride in and some of the “spooks” they see look like something out of “Nightmare Before Christmas” rather than anything from the rest of the movie. Other than that scene, there’s not much else that make “Ed Wood” feel like the typical movie that put the signature “Tim Burton Style” first before plot.

               In the end, “Ed Wood” is a triumphant film that praises following you’re dreams and enjoying what you do. Even if Ed Wood’s films never were the critical or box office hits that he may have wanted, his passion and love of film making rings true in this film and calls out to other aspiring artists who fight to have their visions fully realized for everyone to witness. As Orson Welles tells Ed Wood in the movie, “Ed, visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your life making someone else’s dreams?”