20 Years of "Ed Wood"

"We're about to embark on quite a journey.  4 days of hard work."

Most movies take a lot longer, but not Ed Wood's infamous "Glen or Glenda."  At least according to Tim Burton's 1994 biopic about the worst director of all time.  "Ed Wood" was released twenty years ago this week, and it remains one of my all time cherished films.

"Ed Wood" tells the true story of Edward D. Wood, Jr. the movie director of such 1950s horror movies as "Bride of the Monster" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space."  He follows his Hollywood dreams as he writes, directs and acts in no-budget pictures about monsters, aliens, and transvestites.  When he meets the cranky and retired Bela Lugosi, they form a friendship and creative partnership that gives Ed Wood the credibility he needs to make big movies.

I love the black and white, romantic reimagining of old Hollywood.  The authentic locations are pefect - I'd swear that the entire movie takes place on Hollywood Boulevard.  I love the humor, the acting, and the witty dialogue.  But most of all, I love "Ed Wood" because it's a very true profile of someone in love with movies.  It's about dreamers and their struggles.  Ed Wood tries like hell to make one, but realizes how incredibly difficult filmmaking can be.

Written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, "Ed Wood" was an odd premise that seems unlikely to get made today.  Before DVDs and Netflix, it was much harder to see forgotten movies, so being aware of the director Ed Wood and his movies was a rarity.  Deciding to make a movie about him was a risk, but the end result is such a mainstream entertainment it's a testament to all the filmmakers involved.  Clearly all of the cast and crew love movies - especially the old obscure ones.

 

Of course the movie would not have such charm without Johnny Depp playing the title character.  Before he was Captain Jack Sparrow and other caricatures, Johnny Depp accepted bold and risky roles.  Each one invented an indelible persona, yet this may be his finest work.  His energy and emotion carries the picture; he brings to life this marginalized, weird character taking Ed Wood from the fringe to the megaplex.

During Awards season it was Martin Landau, however, who got all the attention.  He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his mesmerizing portrayal of Bela Lugosi.  Watching the movie today I still forget that it's not actually the real Bela Lugosi.  It's a brilliant imitation where Mr. Landau uses his whole body and voice to capture the soul of the original Dracula.  It many ways he steals the show.

On one hand, "Ed Wood" is a very funny movie, inviting the audience to laugh at Mr. Wood's amazingly bad choices and even worse movies.  On the other hand, it's a very thoughtful look at the creative process.  No one - not even Ed Wood - tries to make bad movies.  But even the best ideas sometimes crash and burn.  Of course, Ed Wood knew he had no budgets, no time, and actors who were at best beyond their prime.  He approached each movie with passion, found the positives in every review, and he persevered.  In reality, Ed Wood made a living from writing and directing movies for over twenty years.  He's even the subject of a recent retrospective at the Anthology Film Archives in New York.

Were most of his movies really that bad?  It's safe to say they really were.  But "Ed Wood" exists to introduce him to subsequent generations who will be inspired to watch "Plan 9 From Outer Space" and judge for themselves.  In many ways, Ed Wood is more immortal that many of his contemporaries.  

"Worst film you ever saw?  Well my next one will be better."  

"God Help the Girl" - The Belle & Sebastian Movie

When a Kickstarter campaign was launched two years ago by Belle & Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch to crowd fund a feature film, it appeared like a creative art project without much mainstream potential.  Featuring several recent Belle & Sebastian songs, the proposed movie musical "God Help the Girl" would be directed by first-time filmmaker Stuart Murdoch, based on his own original screenplay.  It all seemed like a long-shot; something audiences never get to see.  "God Help the Girl," however, was successfully funded, completed and released, and is an inventive, entertaining piece of cinema.

The movie tells the story of Eve (Emily Browning), a songwriting dreamer who frequently escapes from a Glasgow hospital where she is being treated for anorexia.  When she meets James (Olly Alexander), a guitar-playing lifeguard, they become friends and roommates.  James teaches music to Cassie (Hannah Murray), and the three form a band dedicated to the joy of pop songs.

What follows is a full on musical, where the characters break into song and dance at random, imaginative moments.  As their band struggles to reach an audience, Eve battles her emotional issues and returns to the hospital.  She keeps pursuing her goals, submitting demo tapes to the local radio DJs.  Ultimately she must decide whether to remain in Scotland with James, or attend music school in London.

Emily Browning is terrific, singing, dancing and demonstrating a wide emotional tenderness.  The entire cast is very talented, as they bring an authentic charm to a story that manages to avoid the clichés often expected in the romance genre.  Every time you try to anticipate what a character will say or do they surprise with something off the wall.

As expected, the music is excellent.  To fans of Belle & Sebastian, many of the songs will be familiar.  Yet presented here in an original context, and sung by this cast, the soundtrack is fresh and exciting.  The music celebrates all things Pop, and it's hard not to have fun and enjoy the ride.

Credit goes to Mr. Murdoch, for crafting a fun, original film.  The cinematography looks beautiful, showcasing Glasgow in a romantic glow.  The editing is crisp and the overall style is offbeat nouvelle vague.  A very impressive feature film debut for the writer-director-singer-songwriter.  Check it out now in theaters or on-demand.