Written by: Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski

Directed by: Tim Burton

BBD Comments:

I have always admired ‘Ed Wood.’ It is an homage from one director to another, and as Tim Burton idolized and employed Vincent Price at the end of his life, Mr. Wood does the same for Bela. Perhaps this personal connection is the source of Burton’s immense respect and love for these figures, and it is Burton’s respect for this pairing that gives the film its somewhat twisted spine.

While we don’t exactly root for them, we engage with these misfits despite the vapidity of their pursuits. Burton treats his subject matter as if he were telling the story of Orson Welles. He hits all the personal and professional landmarks a more conventional bio piece would, and in doing so resists descending into parody.

Following ‘Let It Ride,’ ‘Ed Wood’ returns us to what Wiener described as the non-hero genre. While Wood’s ambitions are more artistic and altruistic, Ed’s search for “the film he will be remembered for” compliments Trotter’s wish for “one good day.” Both stories relate as well in that they populate themselves with a wide and wild array of characters.

Bill Murray is a standout as Bunny, and he is surrounded on all sides by wonderful supporting players (particularly my director and friend Brent Hinkley whose ill timed on-set comment about Karloff sends Bela into one of his splendid rages.)

Martin Landau’s performance is nothing short of perfection. He embodies Lugosi (aided by an impeccable make up designed by Rick Baker) so fully and legitimately that you actually stop marveling at his performance because you are so engrossed in his story. Seldom has an Oscar been more deserved. 

Johnny Depp sketches Wood as a man driven by his dreams, painfully honest and pitiable. As strong as his performance is, there is something so detached about his characterization that it keeps the story from ever truly landing. We are left with a tribute that is lovingly drawn, but sadly imperfect. The story itself never provides us with true drama. We love the odd balls, but care very little for their fate as they are so removed from the real world, and save Bela, any real consequences.

JaJa’s sophomore pick was an excellent outdoor Los Angeles pick, well suited to the stormy night, but short of a slam dunk. I admire the courage of the last minute audible, but ultimately found the film far less rewarding than her freshman Selection, ‘The Sting.’ ‘Ed Wood’ entertains, but fails to truly engage. We never worry about the story’s outcome because the character’s dreams are so small and so easy to “achieve” given their severe and willful disconnect from reality.

On a side note, this is the second consecutive JaJa selection I have unhappily been able to identify from the opening strands of prematurely audible music. If I give Nubs shit about not starting films with care I must do the same to JaJa. I am happy to run you through the process again, but get it together. You’re not probationary anymore and the unknown opening is one of my favorite parts of Movienight.

Coolbaugh Comments:

Ed Wood. I wouldn’t. Kobe did. On a night that, to me, was special – Lakers vs. Movienight. The crew wondered what I was going to do? Where was my loyalty? Is the first round any different than the Final? I managed to end up with the best of both worlds. I watched the game until showtime, and then stepped into the yard, for Justine’s great selection, ‘Ed Wood.’

I’ve never seen this before – shocking, I know. And when it became identified to me, I didn’t need to struggle with the “I wish I was watching something else” feeling that always comes with a new-to-me movie. I went in with a positively open mind, and was more easily engaged from the outset.

I really enjoyed this film, despite all my issues. I could certainly appreciate Wood’s drive, and desire to succeed, however, the crap he ended up putting out seemed a bit oxymoronic to me. If he was so concerned about every single word, and knew the exact enunciation of each syllable, then why would he so carelessly overlook the other elements of film making? Surely a filmmaker must understand that a film involves not only dialogue, but performances, set design, costuming, continuity, etc. The list goes on. But he really was clueless when it came to these ever-so-important components and I simply can’t wrap my head around it. But that is mostly a fact of the man issue (although you can argue that the filmmakers could have addressed it a bit better), and this film is about telling that man’s story, so we’ll leave it for another discussion.

Really, the film was cool, and I never found myself wandering. The performance of Johnny Depp was fantastic, and was upstaged only by Martin Landau’s brilliant Bela Lugosi portrayal. It was, however, tough to conceive how, at the end of the film, he would receive such high acclaim (full theaters, standing ovations, etc.) given the utter crap he was producing. Perhaps I just don’t understand the movie that well…but one thing is for certain: had he made porn, he’d have been a legend much faster.

I will be unable to enjoy Wiener’s selection with the group next week due to a trip to Vegas. I will, however, set up the system on Saturday night, and give myself a private showing of whatever the film is, and will review to the best of my abilities.

Until then.

Onward.

Nubs Comments:

With JaJa’s all important second pick she proved she's good at the topical and timely. She told us she audibled her first choice in favor of ‘Ed Wood’ based on the rainy night in Hollywood. I do appreciate a good pick that mirrors what's happening in our small Back Yard environment. I don't think I've seen this movie since moving to Hollywood and it was great to see all the local landmarks.  The start was a little hairy, but snacks conquer all. However, since I need a scapegoat I will forever blame Justine's “Hot Tamales” for breaking Davis's System. I'll take the blame this time, but only me, Justine, and “Hot Tamales” know the truth.

As for the movie, ‘Ed Wood’ is considered one of Tim Burton's best. It's his only Best Picture nominated epic, and a beautiful homage to Hollywood and his own life. That said, I have to admit it still disappoints in the same way all of Burton's film do, except for ‘Big Fish,’ and ‘Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.’ He's so strong at creating tone, comedy, spectacle, and characters unlike anybody else that his story and endings seem to suffer. ‘Ed Wood’ is exemplary of all his gifts and flaws.

The characters are so hilarious and cartoonish that they are unaccessible and cannot carry us to a sympathetic ending. Johnny Depp though brilliant, begins a trend he continues in ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ and ‘Sleepy Hollow.’ He is so weird and one-dimensional that he loses the audience by the end.

Martin Landau carries as much of the film as he can, but when his character is done, we are left with little.

The last act drags on with a second love story that is nowhere near as interesting since Patricia Arquette's character is a tall drink of water that is as interesting as water. There is a dreamlike meeting with his idol, Orson Welles, that inspires Wood to finish his movie, though we've already seen him finish movies. With the end, Burton would like us to believe Ed finally gets his moment in the spotlight, but the character is so hopeless from the beginning we neither believe it nor care.

The final title cards describing everyone’s fate reveals Burton's true interest and intention. He wanted to make a movie about the worst director of all time. He is a joke that's fun to laugh at, but not treated with sufficient sympathy or depth to warrant a real Hollywood epic.

Wiener Comments:

I'm sorry to be a fucking dick, but it comes so easily to me.  Last night, the highlight of Movie Night was the usual good company and the surprisingly good weather.  I feel like I've gotten to know Justine much better over these past few weeks.  We have a genuine friendship.  And I know she'll realize my affection for her is undiminished when I call ‘Ed Wood’ our weakest selection since Eisenberg took us back to math camp with his showing of ‘The Meaning of Life.’

I think we're all agreed (and I'm perhaps the guiltiest of this) that we've been mining the film school canon too much for Movie Night. There haven't been enough surprises or enough films with a more personal dimension to them like ‘Let It Ride.’  So maybe ‘Ed Wood’ is a film with deep personal resonance for Justine.  And that will make me even more of a dick for trashing it.  But it's never stopped me before.

Yes, Johnny Depp is the greatest actor of his generation.  Johnny Depp may be the greatest actor that ever lived.  But ‘Ed Wood’ is a film that doesn't seem to know what it's about.  Is it about Ed Wood finding love and acceptance?  Is it about his friendship with Bela Lugosi?  Is it a commentary on how Hollywood treats people at the bookends of their career?  Is it simply the story of a short but important period of Ed Wood's life? The problem with the movie is that touches on all of those things and ends up being none of those things.  I appreciate that Tim Burton is playing with the sensibilities of the bio pic and marrying them to some of the conventions of Wood's camp classics.  And he does have a deft hand with the tone.  The film builds layers of theatricality that could turn annoying really fast, but Burton keeps his talent in check, to his credit.

If one measure of a good film is that it holds more rewards for you the second (or third, or fourth) time around, ‘Ed Wood’ disappoints.  It's a pretty forgettable (and long feeling) two hours with a surprisingly unsatisfying resolution.  We never really identify with Ed.  The other characters are mostly caricatures.  And the film never really raises any emotional stakes.  We could care less when Wood's girlfriend departs.  We're unmoved when his production gets shut down.  We get the sense that Ed Wood gathered and nurtured a bunch of freaks from the margins who couldn't find acceptance anywhere else.  Seeing them succeed would be uplifting, but we never really learn enough about any of them to care.

I don't know what ‘Ed Wood’ is trying to do or say.  As a showcase for the prodigious talent of Johnny Depp and Martin Landau, it succeeds.  But that makes it a drama school textbook.  Which is just as dull as a film school textbook.  It was the first time in Movie Night history, for me, that I found myself checking my watch.  I'll put my money where my mouth is and my reputation on the line next week.  In the meantime, ‘Ed Wood’ was a waste of lucky weather.

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