"Can your hearts stand the shocking facts of the true story of Edward D. Wood Jr?"
Ed Wood opens in the same vein as Ed Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space, with the Amazing Criswell (Jeffrey Jones) addressing the audience directly.Ed Wood also employs a tombstone title sequence likePlan 9, though here we're treated to a very Tim Burtony romp through the graveyard which includes some great stop motion animation.
Ed Wood is shot in black and white. There's even a great black and white joke at the expense of Wood's cameraman, who is colorblind. The lack of color along with the music and editing style serve to make the film feel like it's right out of Ed Wood's heyday. There's even something about the sound effects that feel like the 1950's.
The 50's must've been a fun time to work in Hollywood if Ed Wood is any indication. The question, "Is there a script?" is answered with a, "...no, but there's a poster!" This conversation happens between director Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) and Georgie Weiss (Mike Starr) who's funding Wood's first film. Wood is initially turned down, but a chance encounter with film legend Bela Lugosi (Martin Landau) changes everything. Bela, the "ex-boogey man" befriends Wood, and the two go on to make movie history, with Weiss' inspiring words leading the way, "Shoot whatever baloney you want, just make sure it's seven reels long!"
Of course, Ed Wood is infamous for making B movies of questionable quality. Stock footage inspires him, women's clothing intrigues him, and he's always game to burgle a giant octopus from a studio's prop room. What he lacks in talent is made up for in passionate determination. He writes, directs and stars in his first picture, Glen or Glenda. It doesn't go without notice that these are the same roles Orson Wells played in his first picture, Citizen Kane. Of course, the men are in two different leagues when it comes to film making.
In the face of brutal criticism, Wood is always optimistic. "Don't take it too seriously, we're all doing great work." And with a smile on his face, Ed Wood and his gang of misfits force their way onto the Hollywood scene.
Martin Landau disappears into the Bela Lugosi role. It's an incredible performance that is well deserving of the Oscar he won for it. In a film full of B movie monsters, Lugosi's tracked up arm is the scariest thing by far. His drug problem is an underlying issue throughout the film until it comes to the forefront as he becomes the first actor ever to check himself into rehab. Johnny Depp is at the top of his game as well, and I really enjoyed Mike Starr as Georgie Weiss. He gets a lot of great lines. "I don't make major motion pictures, I make crap!" And of course there's George "the Animal" Steele who plays actor Tor Johnson. Steele was one of my favorite wrestlers growing up and I really enjoyed watching him get a chance to act instead of eating the stuffing out of a turnbuckle.
Ed Wood is an amazing film about a nearly forgotten filmmaker. My only problem with the film is a small one. At the Bride of the Monster premiere, things get a little too out of hand, so much so that is begins to feel unrealistic. In a film that feels very genuine throughout, this manic craziness is somewhat out of place. It's the only scene in the film I didn't love. I also wonder about Patricia Arquette. Don't get me wrong, I've loved her ever since I saw True Romance for the first time, but she's given very little to do here. I'm on the fence whether her part should be bigger, or dropped all together.
The final film we see Wood making is Plan 9 from Outer Space. This one is surprisingly financed by the Baptist Church of Beverly Hills, so long as Wood and his crew get baptized which is a pretty hilarious scene. Money in hand Wood is thrilled, "This is the ultimate Ed Wood movie . . . no compromises!" But very quickly the baptists are directing over his shoulder and questioning his every decision.
Wood finds a lot of frustration in the compromises he has to make in order to make the movies he wants. There's always someone trying to take things in a different direction, and unfortunately for him they're usually the people with the money. But he's in good company. At a particularly low point, Wood runs into Orson Wells (Vincent D'Onofrio). Wells gives Wood some great advice, "Why spend your life making someone else's dreams?" It's easier said than done, but it's exactly what Wood needs to hear.
Ed Wood wraps up with a wonderful montage of recreated scenes from Plan 9. They're so completely silly it's easy to forget that Plan 9 is indeed a real movie. In fact, Plan 9 from Outer Space is the perfect double feature to pair with Tim Burton's Ed Wood. It's really fun to see how spot on Burton was in recreating the look and feel of Ed Wood's time in Tinseltown, and equally as fun to watch the original and think about everything that was happening behind the scenes.
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