This is an unlikely buddy movie starring Johnny Depp as Edward D. Wood, the famous bad director responsible for Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Martin Landau as a heroin ruined Bela Lugosi going through the final indignities of a career that peaked early.
It's an inspired idea with a wonderfully imaginative script. The two leads pull off one of the screen's most endearing odd-couple double acts; a pair of deadbeats who we are encouraged to reappraise for their love of cinema, and for their endurance.
The outstanding supporting cast of exotic outsiders and weirdoes are a dream, particularly Bill Murray's charlatan clairvoyant.
The recreation of the period is gorgeous, the black and white photography is lustrous. This is a wonderful, optimistic, feel-good film which manages to largely avoid sentimentality while delivering a fascinating and rich experience of life on the peripheries of fifties Poverty Row pictures.
"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.