Review of Ed Wood

Review of Ed Wood (1994)

Ed Wood

Ed Wood is a film directed by Tim Burton, which is about a bad film director. Although it was made in 1994 it has a 1950s style and makes you believe it was created then. Roger Ebert describes the film's style in a review on Chicago Sun Times. "The movie's black and white photography convincingly recaptures the look and feel of 1950s sleaze, including some of the least convincing special effects in movie history. There are also running gags involving Wood's ability to write almost any piece of stock footage into almost any script." (Ebert, 1994) Why Burton done this style is explained by Janet Maslin in a review on The New York Times. "So here is the Z-movie ethos of Edward D. Wood Jr., as filtered through the dark wit and visual brilliance of Mr. Burton. Two questions immediately present themselves: Who and why? To answer the first, Ed Wood was a director working on the outermost fringes of Hollywood in the 1950's. He made the kind of science-fiction film that used Cadillac hubcaps for flying saucers." (Maslin, 1994) 

Johnny Depp as Ed Wood

Although Ed Wood was the worst film director he had a hidden passion for dressing up in women's clothes. He creates a film where this is depicted, perhaps by using this film he could slowly get people to understand why he likes to dress this way, as explained by Todd McCarthy in a review on Variety. "Wood's other claim to fame was that, although apparently straight, he was an avid transvestite, with a particular taste for Angora sweaters. This predilection was dramatized, if that is the word, in "Glen or Glenda," in which Wood himself starred as a young man seeking understanding for his odd habit." (McCarthy, 1994)  

Ed Wood Dressed in Women's Clothes

List of Illustrations

Figure 1. Burton, Tim (1994) Ed Wood. [Poster] At: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/johnny-depp--theres-method-in-his-madness-1882231.html?action=Gallery&ino=14 (Accessed on: 24.09.11) 

Figure 2. Burton, Tim (1994) Johnny Depp as Ed Wood. [Screen cap] At: http://www.philonfilm.net/2011/01/reviewing-90s-phil-on-film-readers-poll.html (Accessed on: 24.09.11)

Figure 3. Burton, Tim (1994) Ed Wood Dressed in Women's Clothes. [Screen cap] At: http://www.fanpop.com/spots/colleen-atwood/images/22377484/title/ed-wood-1994-photo (Accessed on: 24.09.11) 

Bibliography

Ebert, Roger (1994) Ed Wood. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19941007/REVIEWS/410070301 (Accessed on: 24. 09.11)

McCarthy, Todd (1994) Ed Wood. http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117903075?refcatid=31 (accessed on: 24.09.11)

Maslin, Janet (1994) Ed Wood (1994). http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9405E0DA143AF930A1575AC0A962958260&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes (Accessed on: 24.09.11)