Rent Ed Wood (1994)

Film Buff Heaven. - Ed Wood review by Steve

Unlikely buddy picture about the relationship between Edward D. Wood (Johnny Depp), the legendary director of bad films- responsible for Plan 9 From Outer Space- and a heroin ruined Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau) going through the final indignities of a career that peaked two decades earlier.

The fictional story is written into the crazy real life events and then polished by an impressively imaginative script. Depp and Landau make one of the screen's most endearing odd couples; as a pair of deadbeats we are encouraged to reappraise for their love of cinema, and for their endurance.

You really root for them! The support cast playing the diverse ensemble of exotic outsiders and weirdoes is astonishing. Jeffrey Jones' charlatan clairvoyant is a standout. The recreation of the period and the lustrous b&w photography are genuinely thrilling. Even the opening credits are a blast

Miraculously it manages to avoid sentimentality while delivering a massive dose of feelgood optimism... plus a fascinating, vicarious experience of life on poverty row, on the peripheries of '50s Hollywood. There's a lot of warmth up on the screen, and a love of B films will only increase the glow.

Funny and poignant - Ed Wood review by LC

"Ed Wood" is probably the last great film role for Johnny Depp, and definitely the best movie ever made by Tim Burton. It celebrates the B-movie director, whose vision certainly outweighed his talents, but does so in a touching way, showing his belief in his work. The supporting cast of oddballs are great, especially Landaus turn as Bela Lugosi. The film looks great in a black and white homage to the period. Well worth a watch.

Quirky B&W cult film - Ed Wood review by BN

Landau is spectacular in his Lugosi makeup which won the film an Oscar. Depp at times has sufficient drive & verve obtaining financing for his cheap pictures and following thru with a loyal little band of followers, none of whom seem to turn much of a hair to his films the man produces.

At the time I'd have assumed they might bring shock & universal condemnation to Americans but director Tim Burton has sidestepped any suggestion of this.

Bill Murray in his part as Orson Welles is eerily real but that is helped, I believe, with a dubbed voice. As corpulent back then as portrayed? Sarah Jessica Parker is the only oddball to me; she doubtless thought it might be her fame in Sex in the City that might pull the crowds but subsequent research revealed the girlfriend with the ghastly wig just didn't ring true. In an equally fake wig Patricia Arquette was the character who married and loyally stuck with Wood for 20 yrs.

The use of B&W filming is inspired as it keeps up the theme of Halloween-type spookiness from Horror stories to Sci-fi in Burton's repertoire