Richard Propes' Review A-

"Ed Wood" is a Tim Burton classic that never got quite the reward it deserved at the box office (like most Burton films). The film is brilliant in its portrayal of the life of Hollywood director Ed Wood, an interesting, unique, eccentric and, well, you get the picture type of character.

Johnny Depp has a field day here...this may be Depp's finest performance, and certainly far above "Pirates of the Caribbean." Depp was nominated for a Golden Globe for this performance, but failed to get an Oscar nomination. This, in my opinion, was a travesty. Depp inhabits this character...lives as Ed Wood and creates a multi-faceted, intriguing character where many actors would have gone for caricature. It's a beautiful performance.

Martin Landau won every award known to man in his supporting role here, including the Oscar. As Bela Lugosi, Landau is simply brilliant...he brings an emotion to this character...and yet a humor...it's an incredible balance that Landau pulled off in every scene.

I've never been a Sarah Jessica Parker fan, but she is simply marvelous here as Wood's girlfriend. Additionally, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones and Vincent D'Onofrio all make nice turns here. Smaller appearances entertain here including Bill Murray, Lisa Marie and pretty much the entire supporting cast.

Unlike most Wood films, this film features wonderful cinematography and Oscar-winning make-up. The direction of Burton is stellar...quite simply, this is an under-rated and beautiful gem of filmmaking

© Written by Richard Propes

How We Rated This Film TC Candler - A- Richard Propes - A- Jacob Hall - A+

TC Candler's Comment

Tim Burton's best film by far!

Jacob Hall's Comment

Wow. It is simply incredible how the film can go from laughter to tears without missing a beat. As much as I love the films of Tim Burton, I could never have guessed that he could have made a film of this caliber. It is an amazing, tour de force of a film. His decision to shoot in black and white creates the perfect atmosphere. No film except those made in the proper time have depicted 1950s Hollywood this perfectly. “Ed Wood” feels like an older film in terms of editing, cinematography and pacing, and I mean that as a compliment. Burton is truly a director like Wood in that he makes films that are personal. He has openly said that he grew up on the type of movies that Wood made, and his respect for the genre shows.