For what ever reason, Buena Vista decided to recall their much awaited Special Edition of Tim Burton's "Ed Wood" this week. Is it worth the fifty to eighty dollars some are paying on E-Bay for it? You be the judge.
Quite simply, "Ed Wood" is Tim Burton's finest film. All of the elements Burton constructs bring the script forward without overshadowing it with film form (his remake of "Planet of the Apes").
The film, which follows “worst director ever” Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) and his escapades through Hollywood as he produces some of the worst B-movies ever constructed. Like many of Burton’s main characters, Wood is an outsider and not strictly because of his production of low art. Wood was an infamous cross dresser who befriended both transvestites, drug addicts, and “freaks” alike and though Burton’s construction of his masterpiece (and his later film homage “Mars Attacks!”), it is evident that he held Wood in nothing but high regard.
Burton’s affection is apparent in the sophisticated look that, while it harkens back in homage to the look of Wood's films, also carries Burton's focused signature. His utilization of black and white photography (showcased wonderfully by a crisp widescreen transfer) also places the film in its specific time period. There is much talk about this on the commentary track, which puts forth the claim that the decision to shoot in black and white was to make Martin Landau's Bela Lugosi makeup look more authentic. After all, claims one of the participants on the commentary, who remembers Lugosi's "Dracula" in color? As aforementioned, Burton's decision is clearly not just utilized to allow technical makeup effects. It gives the film a look of the fifties, a look of Wood's movies as well as the low budget films of the time, which were mainly exploitation or noir films constructed to fit a double bill.
The film’s look aside, "Ed Wood" also climbs above Burton's other films in the achievement of acting. As seen in this year’s Oscar nominations, many are crying that Johnny Depp’s best performance to date has been his insanely overrated portrayal of a pirate in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl”. Depp, to his enthusiasts however, had a far more challenging and rewarding portrayal in “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”. His performance in “Ed Wood” is quite possibly his finest. Like his portrayal of Hunter S. Thompson, Depp completely embodies the character’s mannerisms, look, and enthusiasm. However, Depp’s performance and transformation is often overruled by the performance of Martin Landau as silent screen great Bela Lugosi. Landau, like Depp, sinks so far into the role by studying the mannerisms of Lugosi and utilizing the magic of Rick Baker’s makeup. When Landau watches “Dracula” on the television and we see the real Lugosi right next to Landau and how their mannerisms are so closely linked. Landau’s performance is also not strictly that of a impersonation. Through the drug addiction subplot, Landau layers the performance which won the Oscar for best supporting actor. Not only are Burton’s leads strong, he surrounds them with great supporting characters played by Bill Murray, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jeffrey Jones. The only criticism that can be made in the way of performances is that of Patricia Arquette, who is not given enough development and vivid characterization of the others when she is introduced so late in the film.
Disappointing when compared to the film, Buena Vista’s recalled Special Edition has plenty of extras, some of which are lacking in quality. For instance, the behind the scenes featurette entitled "Let's Shoot This F#*%r!" and stated to have been hosted by Johnny Depp is far below par. It is just a bunch of behind the scenes tape of Burton filming scenes and Depp really has no hand in things at all. He makes a brief introduction and that is about it. There are two more featurettes on Baker’s Lugosi makeup and the production design. The deleted scenes are also a bit disappointing. Some are simply extended versions of scenes from the film and one of Bill Murray singing a song. The only deleted scene of any value was that of Ed going to Tor’s house for dinner which was both funny and provided a bit more depth that the film. The best extra, by far, is that of the commentary track with Burton, Landau, writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karasewski, the director of photography, and costume designer. It provides a lot of background on the film, it’s production, as well as many other aspects of Wood’s life and more. Buena Vista could have done a much better job on documentary extras and could have even added a second commentary track with Depp and some of the others on it. It is far from a bad effort, but the award winning and beloved caliber of Burton’s best film demand far more.
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