Rent Ed Wood (1994)

Film Buff Heaven. - Ed Wood review by Steve

This is an unlikely buddy movie 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 many years earlier.

It's an inspired idea, which is skilfully realised through an impressively imaginative script. The two leads are one of the screen's most endearing odd-couples; a pair of deadbeats who we are encouraged to reappraise for their love of cinema, and for their endurance.

The stars are sensational. And the support cast playing an entended coterie of exotic outsiders and weirdoes is outstanding. Bill Murray's charlatan clairvoyant is a standout. The recreation of the period is gorgeous, the black and white photography is lustrous. There is a lot of love here.

This is a phenomenally optimistic feelgood film which manages to largely avoid sentimentality while delivering a fascinating, vicarious experience of life on the peripheries of Hollywood in '50s poverty row pictures. Maybe a love of B films will enhance the experience.

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