A lovable failure

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2006)

Ed Wood charts the story of Edward D. Wood Jr., voted the worst director in Hollywood. But to say that this story is about his failures and his lack of artistic ability behind the lens would be a total generalisation, one that would not do this film justice. Instead, Tim Burton has filmed a story paying homage to a man, that, despite his many flaws, you truly have a sort of respect for at the end of the film.
Burton's film is aided by the listing of a stellar cast, not least of which is Johnny Depp in the title role, who plays Wood as a sort of innocent egomaniac, who while he seems friendly and charming as a man, has absolute conviction in his talents, and never questions them for a second. With Depp is Sarah Jessica Parker and Particia Arqutte as the women of Wood's life and Bill Murray as his confidante Bunny.
But truly the star of the show, along with Depp is Martin Landau as the once great horror star Bela Lugosi. Once the toast of the cinema, now nothing more than a drug addled ruin with his career now in tatters.
But this isn't a story about falling from grace, nor is it a story about failure. As much as anything Burton uses this film to pay homage to a man who didn't listen to the executive big wigs, nor was tied down by petty changes that had to be made. In fact Burton, deliberately compares him to Orson Welles, showing that although that Wood may not have had the talent, he certainly had the drive and if anything he should be respected for that.
This is a movie that shows that the weird is often lovable, despite, if it fails. How else can you explain a transvestite director coming across as charming?