A deeply felt coming-of-age story

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2013)

I think "Edward" strikes an emotional chord with so many of us because we recognize our own struggles with adolescence that Edward experiences as he's first introduced to society. Those who've experienced the sometimes-bitter and painful process of growing up in modern America will immediately recognize and empathize with his shy innocence, his awkwardness, his feelings of isolation and "different-ness" and difficulty fitting in. Whose heart doesn't reverberate in sympathy with Edward's first experience with love, and the joy and heartache and rage that it can bring? I think most can recognize his feelings of "incompleteness" - visually represented by his "scissors hands." And, who wouldn't recognize his feelings of (suddenly) being a misunderstood monster, with a beauty inside that seemingly no one else can see, or cares to, and whose own emotional inexperience and clumsiness leads us to have hurt those we love most? When he's told "you can't touch anything without destroying it!" - who hasn't felt that way about themselves? I think that's part of why this film can carry such an emotional punch, as Burton touches on themes of sometimes sweet, and sometimes painful experiences many of us can immediately relate to, because we recognize similar experiences in our own adolescence.
Depp's portrayal of Edward is sublime - I find his range of expressiveness - fear, curiosity, puzzlement, joy, love, anger, rage - so eloquent, yet often transmitted only via his eyes. His facial expressions are limited and stoic, partly by make-up, but also, I think, deliberately. Yet he manages to convey a remarkable emotional range - and somehow, he takes me with him.
The story arc has been told and re-told here - stripped bare, I admit, it's almost silly in its apparently banal storyline. In fact, when I first heard of the premise of the movie, I thought it sounded ridiculous. Until I saw it.
In addition to Depps' performance, Ryder has some beautiful moments here, and Wiest and Arkin are strong throughout. I found the Esmerelda character to be a bit, well, "off" - I'm not sure her role was strictly necessary. But on-balance, the neighbors and the neighborhood are pitch-perfect, at least to me - perhaps this is more about "me" and people of a certain age, but the suburb and its inhabitants as depicted was a stunning recreation of the late 60's/early 70's Southern California suburb where I grew up.
The early mood of a modern sweet fairytale diminishes over time, as the events surrounding Edward become more "real", more banal. I assume this was intentional on the part of Burton - but still, the penultimate act of violence is jarring, and I wish Burton found a less brutal way to resolve the conflict. I'm sometimes afraid that some may turn away from the movie at this point, and fail to see the heart-wrenching, and redemptive final scene.
Because despite a few flaws, if the final scene doesn't bring tears to your eyes, I don't know what to say. I can barely watch the movie now without almost inexplicable tears.
I don't know that this movie is for everyone. But for those who "get it", it's a touching and memorable film.