A review of "Ed Wood"

Confessions of a Film Junkie: A Review of “Ed Wood”

By: Brian Cotnoir

 “Ed Wood” is a film about the infamous career of director Edward D. Wood, Jr.  Ed Wood gained notoriety two years after his death, when he was voted “The Worst Film Director of All-Time” and his film “Plan 9 from Outer Space” was voted “The Worst Film of All-Time”.  Since his death, Wood has been called everything from a disgrace to cinema to a cult movie icon.  His films, and the 1994 film about his life, still serve as an inspiration and a reminder of the madness of one of the most notorious figures Hollywood has ever seen.                                                                          

The film focuses on the point in Ed Wood’s life where he was struggling to make it as a director in Hollywood.  Wood went through a lot of crazy, and at some point’s, desperate measures in order to get the funding to make his films.  The role of Ed Wood was played by Johnny Depp.  Depp does an absolutely wonderful job in my opinion.  One of the key facts of Wood’s life that I’m glad they addressed in the film was that he was a transvestite.  Even if you’re not a fan of Wood’s movies, seeing Johnny Depp in drag makes this film worth watching.  Another great actor in this film is Martin Landau who plays Wood’s friend and only big name star, Bela Lugosi.  Landau’s portrayal of one of the greatest horror movie icons of all-time is one of the best acting performances I have ever seen.  It should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen this film that Landau won the Oscar for “Best Support Actor” that year.  Besides Depp and Landau, “Ed Wood” has many more big name stars, such as Bill Murray, who plays Wood’s good friend and socialite, John “Bunny” Breckinridge, Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays Wood’s former girlfriend Dolores Fuller, and many other great stars such as former professional wrestler George “the Animal” Steele, Lisa Marie, Patricia Arquette, and Juliet Landau, who is the daughter of fellow co-star Martin Landau.                                                                                                                                        

“Ed Wood” was directed by another iconic film director, Tim Burton.  I really like how Burton filmed this entire movie in black & white, just like Ed Wood’s films; it gives the movie a certain mood that really puts you in the time and place that the movie is set in.   I think anyone who sees this film will really like it.  It’s a bit long, but it tells the story of a man who was so determined to follow his dreams he’d take any drastic measure to make sure that his dreams came true.