Ed Wood

This is my first viewing of this film. Tim Burton's hilarious cinematography and desire to imitate old black and white films were what helped me make it through this otherwise dull story. This is probably the worst Burton film I've seen. It's much too long and its good qualities aren't enough to keep anyone interested.

Johnny Depp is a strange person. This is a statement of fact. As Ed Wood, a horrible, cross-dressing director, I'm just not sure if he really works. It's hard to tell if he's making fun of the role, or if that's what the role calls for.

I'm surprised Tim Burton hasn't used Sarah Jessica Parker more often. She's pretty, but something about her is just slightly off. Apart from Mars Attacks, Ed Wood is her only Burton film. Sadly he's forgotten about her since Helena Bonham Carter came on the screen in Big Fish. And since then....well I don't really remember any other women being in his movies....besides Johnny Depp.

Martin Landau doesn't impress me...and definitely doesn't deserve the Oscar he won for Best Supporting Actor. He's just a hopped up Dracula on morphine.

Random:

I love the camera angle Burton uses when Landau opens the door and points a gun at Depp. It's angled diagonally from the floor up. As Landau tries to convince Depp to join him in the afterlife, the lighting emulates that of an old-timey horror film. Many of his shots are impressive. This really shows that even though Tim Burton is a very strange man with odd ideas (I know, I recently saw his art exhibit at the MOMA in NYC), he's technically very talented.

When Scenes:

WHEN Johnny Depp and Martin Landau are watching Dracula and JD tries to imitate Landau's moves.

WHEN Landau tries to scare little kids on Halloween dressed up as a vampire and one little boy dressed up like a cowboy is not scared. Johnny Depp pulls out his dentures and scares the kid to death.

WHEN Johnny Depp is preparing the cast and crew for Lugosi coming to visit and talking through a megaphone as they stand in a small group.

WHEN Landau has to pretend like the octopus is dragging him under the water. You can see him clearly grabbing the prop as he screams and thrashes.

WHEN Johnny Depp cross dresses and does a strip tease at a cast party....then unveils his mouth only to show that his dentures are gone. Classic Tim Burton.

WHEN the cast goes to the premiere for Bride of the Monster....an angry mob attacked them before the show even began...huh? Tim, what are you up to?

QUICKIES:

"Why would Lugosi want to do a sex-change script?" — Mike Starr (Georgie Weiss)

"Because he's my friend!" — Johnny Depp (Ed Wood)

"I wrote directed and starred just like Orson Welles did in 'Citizen Kane' " — Johnny Depp (Ed Wood)

"Yeah but Orson Welles didn't wear an angora sweater" — Mike Starr (Georgie Weiss)

"It wasn't until I saw your movie that I decided I need to take action! Goodbye penis!" — Bill Murray (Bunny Breckinridge)

"Do I really have a face like a horse?" — Sarah Jessica Parker (Dolores Fuller)

"I'll make you a drink, what are you drinking" — Johnny Depp (Ed Wood)

"Formaldehyde" — Martin Landau (Bella Lugosi)

"Straight up, or on the rocks?" — Johnny Depp (Ed Wood)

Fun Facts:

Georgie Weiss is played by Dumb and Dumber's favorite gangster Mike Starr.

Juliet Landau (Drusilla in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) plays Loretta King.

It won two Oscars: one for Best Supporting Actor (Martin Landau) and one for Best Makeup

The show Gilmore Girls quotes this movie saying "home I have no home, hunted, despised!"

In a scene with Wood and Dolores, the camera angle showing the ceiling is similar to a scene in Citizen Kane. In the very next scene Ed stands in front of a poster for Citizen Kane.