Ed Wood

Directed by Tim Burton. Written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. Starring Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Touchstone Pictures - 1994

Three and A Half Stars of Review! ***1/2

I suspect that most people's fascination with Ed Wood has more to do with the fact that he was a walking episode of Jerry Springer, and less to do with his supposed earnestness and lack of sense, but that doesn't stop this film from being highly entertaining and slightly touching. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something hysterical about listening to Bela Lugosi curse, but there are plenty of laughs despite (or because) the writers keep things close to the truth. It does feel a little bit too long, but this story of a heterosexual transvestite that seemingly rode a wave of happenstance, and went on to be considered the worst director of all time should appeal even to people unfamiliar with the man's work.