A very good film about a very bad director

Rating: 8/10 (4 April 2010)

When you hear names like Ford, Hitchcock, Scorsese, and Spielberg in discussions about who the best director in movie history is, you are not going to hear the name Ed Wood mentioned with them. Edward D. Wood, Jr. is considered by many to be the worst director ever, and this film tells his story.
Set in Hollywood in the middle part of the 1950s, Wood's goal is to direct, following in the footsteps of his hero, Orson Welles. He embarks on his quest, and at this time happens to meet the legendary Bela Lugosi, who has no money and has been battling a drug addiction for many years. The two become friends and eventually collaborate on several Wood films.
With Lugosi in the mix, Wood and his group of friends begin filming movies that have been rated among the worst in cinematic history. However, the young filmmaker has a never give up attitude. He loves the movies, and feels that this is his calling, and just keeps working.
The movie is very enjoyable to watch. The acting is very good, with Johnny Depp doing a great job as Wood, and Martin Landau giving an unforgettable performance as Lugosi. Landau would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role, and it was deserved. The script is well written, with several memorable lines spoken throughout the film's duration. Not only that, the characters are interesting. None of them are weak. The opening credits pay homage to the movie's main subject (you'll understand if you've seen Wood's movies. If you haven't, you'll see what I mean later in the film). Fittingly, the movie, like all of Wood's, is shot in black and white. "Ed Wood" is an example of quality movie-making. Directed by Tim Burton, who deserves praise for this film, "Ed Wood" is a movie that you should not miss.