Smart story of a famed moron

Rating: 8/10 (3 April 2010)

If Uwe Boll makes another film he might steal the title, but so far Edward D. Wood Jr. is the biggest dumbshit to step behind a camera, common knowledge. If the Razzies began thirty years earlier, he'd win them all. It is ironic then that he is gone but NOT forgotten. Forty years later, a film maker by the name of Tim Burton (who needs no introduction) began making a name for himself. Contrary to what many think, Burton is not always colourful and bright. His early work is very dark, in fact his only film with a warm heart was Big Fish. Edward Scissorhands maybe, but it was still a dark tale.
Burton knows exactly what he is doing. To make a movie about B- movies is not enough, the film itself has to look like a b-movie. The first step of course is too put it in black and white. The next step is to have everyone overact, which rarely works, but it's perfect here. Then add a lot of satire, such as the kind of random music quese that draw attention to themselves.
Few actors are as diverse as Johnny Depp. He truly captures the essence of a moron, but he is almost upstaged by Martin Landau, as Bela Lugosi. The movie covers only a short chapter in Ed Wood's life, but probably the most important. In 1952, with funding of the LA Baptist church, he made Plan 9 from Outer Space (also needs no introduction). It was a triumphant moment for Ed Wood, (or so he thought). The movie ends there, but you won't forget it.
Though it is not Tim Burton's Cinema D'auteur, if looked at in a different perspective from his other films, one could argue that this is his smartest film.