One of the points of this film club (which, by the way is funded by the BFI thanks guys!) is to review the film after watching it, great news for me. But for everyone else who's idea of reviewing a film is worse than listening to U2's discography (sorry U2 fans), obviously aren't as keen as I am. Last night we watched Tim Burton's Ed Wood, so here goes.
Ed Wood
Directed by - Tim Burton
Year released - 1995
Starring - Johnny Depp (no surprises), Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker
Ever wondered who the worst director of ALL TIME is? Nope, not Ruben Fleischer, not Len Wiseman, it's Edward. D. Wood Jnr. Never heard of him? No surprises there. A director in Hollywood in the 1950's trying to make it the same way Orson Welles did; with little to no funding. This almost true biopic follows the "rise" of the non-nonchalant Ed Wood, in it we are forced to watch the brutal making of his films 'Glen or Glenda', 'Bride of the Monster' and 'Plan 9 from Outer Space'. Wood tries to bring life back into retired, junkie actor Bela Lugosi (played by the fabulous Martin Landau), however it seems that Lugosi's Dracula days are over, along with his acting skills.
It was said that Tim Burton was weirdly obsessed with Ed Wood, obviously not the way Ed Wood directed as he claimed "It's not the tiny details that count, it's the big picture". I guess (from past experience) that's where Ed made his first major mistake. The film itself is funny, interesting and attention grabbing; especially for young directors and film students as I'm sure (like myself) they could relate with a lot of the film, walking away from the film then realizing their mistakes. I think what made this film a true, real feeling biopic is that although the film was made in 1994 (then released in 1995) it was all filmed/edited in black and white, true to the time period, it meant the actors could be more dramatic about everything; which made it even more hilarious.
'Ed Wood' is probably the most famous Edward. D. Wood Jnr will ever be, and he should be thanking Tim Burton for that (well, apart from the fact he'd been dead a good twenty years before the film was made). Burton's film has made me want to watch the atrocious films that Ed Wood had made, regardless of them being awfully made, all scenes taken in one shot.
There is one early twist within the film (spoiler alert, kind of). Ed Wood admits to potential backer of his first him 'Glen or Glenda' "I've never told anyone this but, I dress in woman's clothing." Meaning that at random points through the film we get the pleasure of seeing young Johnny in women's clothing, usually owned by his girlfriend Dolores Fuller (Sarah Jessica Parker) who is a hopeful young actress, a jealous wreck and in the end becomes the only person who is honest to Ed; telling him his films are awful (which is true).
If you are not a massive obsessive fan of Tim Burton, but like some of his other films (Beetlejuice, Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands) this is one you should add to his collection. Although not typically Burton, it is still very gothic with typical elements of his (Johnny Depp being one of them), skulls, hilariously morbid and family friendly.
