A Small Masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (20 January 2008)

Tim Burton's small masterpiece follows the story of an outsider thrown into a civilisation where everything is precise and everyone is stiff. Johnny Depp stars as the title character, a man - made boy whose inventor father dies before he could replace Edward's scissor hands with human hands. Living alone in an old mansion, the local Avon lady visits and takes Edward under her wing, introducing him into a society through his topiary and hairdressing skills. There, Edward learns that the power of love in some people can overcome physical appearances, while in others; it merely causes fear and anger.
Depp's performance is, in one word, extraordinary. Even with very few lines, he has this incredible ability to be as physically expressive as silent stars; he is (I believe) one of very few actors who can achieve this expertise today. Always a very attentive performer, Depp creates an Edward that is rigid, self - conscious, and apprehensive in many ways. The various emotions that play across his face throughout the film is why Depp is, or if not should be, classed as one of our best character actors in the 2Oth Century. From the first moment I saw Edward, I immediately felt sorry for him. Subject to his facial expressions and the way he talks and acts around the unusual surroundings he encounters, Depp's character is almost like a little child lost in a world he has never known before, which he portrays brilliantly.
Burton's creation of fantasy films seems to come naturally to him, which is why this film works so well and shows off his outstanding talent and imagination. How he manages to create a world that is so intristic, yet to the audience it doesn't seem legitimate, amazes me. He dreams up a town that is so pastel and like everyone living in that town is stuck in this bubble, which in some way Edward seems to pop that bubble and open the residents to see the real world. No other director could make a film that contains that mix of fantasy added with humour and drama and actually make it work more than Burton.
The use or eerie music helps to establish each scene as individual and unique. Created by Danny Elfman, each piece of score identifies with the characters, more so with Edward, as when he creates his topiary; the fast score fits perfectly with the scene. In some way it displays Edward's concentration and talent while producing his "art" to its full extent.
For me, the best part of this movie is just how Burton combines the different genres used: horror, fantasy, romance, drama and comedy. His capability to do this blows me way and added with Depp's truly stunning performance, this film makes me want to watch it over and over again.