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Ed Wood
****
A
portrayal by Tim Burton of the film director recently voted the worst movie-maker ever, Ed Wood stars Johnny Depp as the ever-optimistic
eccentric behind threadbare, C-list “classics” such as Plan 9 From Outer Space.
Made entirely in black and white, Wood and his motley crew of hapless actors are portrayed with surprising sympathy
as a harmless bunch of eccentrics, quite desperate for fame despite their meagre abilities.
Depp is excellent in the lead role with a superb supporting performance by Martin Landau as an ageing Bela Lugosci. Washed out, bitter and addicted to morphine, he develops a touching, mutually needy
friendship with the young director in a role which won the veteran actor a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Ed Wood is an excellent film, which provides a fascinating insight into Wood’s life and the workings
of the “cheap flick” industry in the 1950s.
Released: 1994
Seen
by me: 1.8.05 (with Naomi)
Edward Scissorhands
****
Gothic fairy tale about greed and exploitation by Tim Burton.
In a castle above a small mid-American town, an old inventor is finishing his ultimate invention – a human being
with a heart and mind. He is about to fit the final part when tragedy strikes - he collapses and dies leaving his creation Edward alone and with scissors instead
of hands.
Peg (Dianne Wiest) a persistent Avon lady from the town below finds
Edward (Johnny Depp) and brings him down to live with her family. At first it
all goes swimmingly well with Edward’s novelty features proving a big hit with the locals. All goes fine till the local tart fails in seducing Edward leading to further mishaps on his part. The small-town mentality then kicks in and poor Edward is vilified by all but his
immediate “family” whilst harbouring his own feelings about Peg’s teenage daughter (Winona Ryder) leading
to a dramatic sad climax.
Edward Scissorhands is an excellent surreal parable with Depp putting in a superb performance
as the benign, alien-like Edward, right down to his make-up and Robert Smith hairstyle.
The settings and stylings in general are effectively weird with the pastel-coloured, idyllic but ultimately oppressive
small town being a particularly fine creation. An excellent moving blueprint
for many of the other films which Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have made – both together and separately.
Released: 1991
Seen by me: 6.8.06 (with Naomi and Amy)
Eternal Sunshine
Of The Spotless Mind
****1/2
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind is a strange,
cultish, sci-fi romance starring Jim Carey and Kate Winslet. Joel (Carey) is a rather world-weary 30-something
who meets the vivacious, punky but deeply insecure Clementine (Winslet). The two troubled souls embark
on a touching relationship for several months till Clementine breaks it off and, on a whim, goes to a controversial medical
practice which removes all memories of Joel from her brain. A shocked and angry Joel goes to the same practice
but the Doctor’s assistant is not paying attention so he desperately tries to leave clues for Clementine so that they
can meet again as his memory of her is being erased.
Eternal Sunshine is a challenging and atmospheric film which constantly
shifts from the present to the future and past. It has excellent uncharacteristic performances by Carey
and Winslet and a fine leading subplot involving the Doctor, his assistant and his receptionist. An arty,
clever and unsettling film which is well worth seeing.
Released: 2004
Seen by me: 12.5.07
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