Ed Wood doesn't deserve a depressing character study, what he deserved was this, a genuinely great film with a truly inspiring message: Visions are worth fighting for, why spend your life making someone else's dreams?
He mentioned something about wanting to do films that his kids could see, well now they have an entire franchise to sit through, get back to doing good films!
+Lexi Kamen Turner Tim must be doing something right. People are still giving him millions and millions and millions of dollars to make films and they're being seen all over the world. Throwing out a one sentence put down of a man who's now in his 3rd decade of making films seems like standard internet brainlessness. When's your next cinematic masterpiece coming out Lexi?
JohnWesley Downey Uhm, right. Because, obviously, making money is the only standard by which we judge the quality of a work of art. That's why Michael Bay is currently in the poor house, whilst František Vláčil was consistently rolling in the Benjamins. I'm not a filmmaker, but my career is focused on film history, criticism, analysis and theory - currently writing three chapters on the representation and implication of girlhood in the Czechoslovak New Wave - I imagine you, yourself, are well versed in film criticism? You seem to know a lot about estimating a film's worth...
A V i think Edward Scissorhands or Beetlejuice is a little stronger. Don't get me wrong, I love it. It's just that I think when we're talking about the best of Burton, Edward Scissorhands stands taller
From a technical standpoint its easily his best.. no whimsical over the top bullshit. It's straight forward, well directed, and a vehicle where all the actors stand out rather than centered around one.
Kevin Muller I disagree on the selling out aspect, selling out is when you change everything including yourself and art for money and money only. Tim and Johnny never sold out. They were given too much money and tried to out do each project with a bigger project. Selling out is the band KISS going from Love Gun to I Was Made For Loving You
Allen M. Quinn Should of won in my opinion. I love Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption and I think both are better movies than Ed Wood, but Depp's performance is better than any other from that year that I've seen.
Allen M. Quinn True, although it was such a crowded year in all categories, especially in the Best Actor and Supporting Actor categories. 1994 was such an incredible year for motion pictures, it even outstripped the previous year that gave us such all-time classics as *SCHINDLER'S LIST, THE PIANO,* and *PHILADELPHIA.*
Maybe Martin Landau's incredible performance overshadowed Depp in the movie. But I don't think Deep would ever have won. It wasn't really "acting" the way the Academy likes to see it.
Quentin Tarantino loves this film pretty much for the same reason, they give, He just went on about how Ed would just pour his heart and soul into these dreadful little movies, But if you watch it nowadays, Glen or Glenda is a nice little plea for understanding.
Well, sort of. But then there is the stock footage of a factory. And the weird monolouge by Narrator Bella Lagosi. Who can forget lines like "Beware the big green dragon. Snips and snails and puppy dogs tails?" It's like Wood is poring out his agonized confusion about what boys and girls are made of.
I think Tarantino said Black Sunday is one of his favourite 3 films and that is a B movie about vampires too. I really like it but because the Vampires surname in it is Vajda like my name.
@Retro Storm i mean, think about tarantino’s biggest influences: exploitation films, 70s kung fu flicks, and grindhouse action movies. cheese is written into his filmmaking dna. two different kinds of the same contribution to culture in terms of those filmmakers’ work.
Spot-on reviews here by our favorite critics. *ED WOOD* truly was one of the best films of 1994, and - Sam Jackson's sore-loser reaction notwithstanding - Martin Landau was simply unbeatable in the Best Supporting Actor category this year. Not only was this his 3rd nomination within 6 years, but this was easily his greatest performance. No one else could have won Best Supporting Actor that year. No one else. It was Martin Landau's year in this category. Completely written-off so many years earlier due to his intense alcoholism - which had nearly cost him his life - Landau successfully beat his demons and launched one of the most successful comebacks in film history. R.I.P. Ya did good. 👍
Somehow Siskel once answered a post I made on some message board decades ago. I had posted something to the effect that some actress was cute and he was among the people who answered my post. His user name was "The Siskel Kid."
It's weird how fulfilling it is to see them get so excited by a movie, talking over each other just so they can both fully express how much they loved it.
Maybe the most enthusiastic thumbs up review ever from S&E. I think this was possibly their favorite film, because in essence it was about the process of film making.
I always remember Quentin Tarentino talking about this film. And Ed's passion for filmmaking, and how the fact he had no talent for it, was not an issue.
To anyone who loves Ed Wood for the reasons these guys talk about, watch the movie American Movie from 1999. A fantastic documentary about a guy's tireless struggle to make "the great American movie" without having much talent to go with his infectious enthusiasm. It's great
These guys NAILED it -- their review made me want to see "Ed Wood" AGAIN (& I've already seen it at least 3 times)! As for "Plan 9..." being "the worst movie ever made" -- hey, there's one thing you've got to say for it: While it may be "bad," it is NEVER DULL and it's always "watchable"...and that's more that you can say for LOTS of movies!
MST3K really hit all the truly bad movies. Manos: Hands of Fate was terrible, and Red Zone Cuba really hit that sweet spot of terrible acting, writing, and editing all in one go. Plan9 was at least comprehensible.
I often think "y was S & E so good?" It's several factors but unlike young utube critics, they knew their subjects. Plus very little humor unlike modern critics using a ton of humor and a modicum of intelligence
Man 1994 was one of the best years in movie history. We got the Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Forest Gump, the Lion King, Speed, Ed Wood, Leon the Professional and the Mask all in that year.
I love this movie. And I really miss these guys. R.I.P Siskel & Ebert. An eternal Thumbs Up! Thank you for helping me admire and appreciate the magic of movies.
I’m a fan of other Tim Burton works, but this is his best in so many ways. The story comes together so nicely, it has this positive attitude and it really motivates you. Not everyone will share the same vision or be resentful, but as long as you have passion and the drive you will go far!
I miss these guys...so many of RUclips critics who wake up one morning and decided to review movies on their channels can't come close to these two masterful well spoken and articulate lovers of cinema...they were an original and the reel deal.
Siskel was right. This film should be seen at film schools all over the world. But I would have gone a step further. It should be seen by everyone. It is a tribute to all the people who try their best and fame alluded them in life,but it soon did find them,and deservely so. Tim Burton's best,easily.
The three best Tim Burton movies ever imo were Ed Wood, Big Eyes, and Big Fish. All three were also relatively unsuccessful compared to his lesser films, unfortunately.
"Two Big Thumbs Up for the unique Ed Wood. A film that will be especially entertaining for people who like cheerful trashiness in those old B-movies. We loved this film and this film loves the movies."
I think people didn’t know what it was, and it’s pretty true to form for it to fail at the box office lol! It’s probably the best homage to Ed that we could give him haha. This is my favorite film of all time!
I truly love this film! Johnny Depp was incredible in the film. Actually, everyone was incredible in this film. This is a film that I will take with me to the island 🏝 😀
This movie is one of those films like Star Wars, or Back to the Future, or The Shawshank Redemption that just has that warm, magical attribute attached to it that makes it timeless. It's not easy to make a film like that, and I feel like I like the film more and more each time I see it.
Loved Ed Wood, it's inspirational and at the same time terrifying. The idea that someone can love making movies as much as Ed, but be remembered as the Worst Director of All Time; it just terrifies me. Just knowing that you could throw everything into a movie, and be so horribly ridiculed and mocked. I love this movie regardless.
The scene that single-handedly won Landau the Oscar. And i just knew he would while I was sitting in the audience watching it when EW first came out. Spectacular performance.
It's because he loved filmmaking, that's true, but he liked doing it as fast as possible, because money was most important (he was always poor) and time is money. Ed's true skill is that he was incredibly fast at everything - typing, directing, casting, everything he did at lightning speed. He was so fast that he could never make time to sit down and think "Is this any good"? Combine that with his optimism and drinking, he was blind to any of his flaws. I learned this from reading his biography
The whole point of the movie, and maybe the best part, is where Ed Woo runs into Orson Wells for a couple minutes and gets some endearing encouragement, about following your dreams, and making them happen "for yourself" as well as others. They didn't even mention that clever scene here. :(
I absolutely agree and it’s even more surprising as you say, because I think it’s this scene that reinforces the point Burton was making and that Siskel correctly identified. One of them is this great, visionary auteur, and the other is this absolutely talentless hack, but they still absolutely know where they are both coming from and they both speak the same language when it comes to making movies. They are both true “amateurs” in the absolute sense of doing what they do for love. No matter that they are both at polar opposite ends of the scale, they are living their lives according to the same rules, the same pressures, the same passion. Marvellous scene.
The film Eddie the Eagle has a very similar scene, only with ski jumpers instead of film directors. Now, Ed Wood is light years ahead of Eddie the Eagle in terms of quality, but it’s nice to see that theme play out again.
I loved it, and loved the fact that I loved it. A friend I saw it with started laughing during the opening credits and was still laughing as we left the diner and got into our cars to drive home.
Wow. This is literally the first positive review I've seen from those guys. Although I'm British so haven't seen a lot from them. But from what I have seen they're usually very negative. I'm glad they enjoyed this underrated classic.
You have to consider how his cross dressing is portrayed in the film: a quirk to be sure, but when he surrounds himself with people who support him and he dresses in the way he wants to dress, he becomes his best self.
It was invigorating that Burton made this movie for people who love good as well as bad movies. Why else would he have had Depp's Wood gain encouragement from Orson Welles. And I loved (as everything else in this great movie) Bela Lugosi ( played by an Oscar earning late great Martin Landau who became Lugosi as Sir Ben became Gandhi) for his indignant, UNflattered reaction @ being compared by a film consultant to Boris Karloff!!!!!
I saw this movie at the NYC premiere . Tim Burton came out before the movie and said a few words (he seemed to be in a hurry and did not seem comfortable in a crowded theatre). The movie was fantastic! When it let out , I spotted SPIKE LEE leaving the theatre with this bitter sourpuss look on his face. LOL. They even gave out movie brochure booklets as we went in..I still have mine. When you watch this TODAY - some feelings may be altered as the lady that played Vampira (at that point ; Tim Burton's girlfriend) had a bitter split up a few years later. She had keys to one of his storage warehouses and was selling his stuff off behind his back ! I wonder if anyone got that giant foam rubber octopus ?
Such a sweet review. I am a fan of "bad stuff" (worst of lists, etc. Hey, I like a good train wreck.) That being said: I have watched this review many times and will again soon. Love it!
I don't know if this is true,but supposedly Milos Forman was an early contender to direct this.I'm glad he didn't;Consider his biopics---Amadeus,The People Vs. Larry Flynt,Man On The Moon---while all good,I really don't think I'd want to see his take on Ed Wood. And I sure as HELL didn't want Courtney Love as Dolores Fuller--or Vampira--or Kathy O'Hara---aw,hell,I just don't want Courtney Love!!!
brilliant film. seen it many times and still rewatch it every year. 10/10. i even like "Plan 9 from outer space" too. cheap production values but great narrative and directing. clever use of stock footage. ed wood was a genius and still under-rated
@SGTItachi47 The people who call him The Worst Director of All Time, I simply tell them "Then you haven't seen the works of Coleman Francis." Ed Wood's enthusiasm for film shone with every frame. Coleman Francis made you question the futility of existence.
This was a good movie. But it also portrayed Mr. Wood as more wholesome and less weird than he really was. He didn't change the name to "Plan nine" because his producer wanted him too. He changed it to avoid paying back his depts. He became a heavy drinker. He later started making porn, straight and gay. He seemed to be quite confused about his sexualiy. But God love him, you got to love "Glen or Glenda." in his own way, Mr. Wood was a pioneer.
He had a vision and made it happen. Whether you believe his movies are good, bad, or in my opinion so bad they're good, you gotta give the man huge props for actually going out and making the movies he wanted to make. Glenn or Glenda is one hell of an achievement I think. In the 50s being a transvestite was extreme taboo and along with homosexuality it was known as a "contagious disease to the mind". In a time when simply being a transvestite was frowned upon, he went out and made a movie about it. He went out and said "Let me educate you, you predigest assholes.". He's been dead for about 40 years and has a huge fan base. Too bad he was dead by the time he was noticed.
Johnny Depp keeps getting hosed out of oscar nominations, first this, then "Black Mass" god forbid, he get an nomination for anything other then playing a pirate!
This was Scott and Larry's first of the four biopics they wrote. After they redeemed themselves from "Problem Child", they moved on to write this film and it received critical acclaim, leading the duo to write the next 3 biopics after this: The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon and Dolemite is My Name.
Such a lovely piece of history this review - a movie depicting honesty, with heart, enthusiastic vital optimism, the story of a man doomed to suffer and die in obscurity………I’m talking about Ed not Tim you pessimist!!!
This WAS Burton's ultimate achievement. Bill Murray owns it like JD and ML. But can he ever top this? I doubt it. ALICE IN WONDERLAND and CHARLIE were crap.
what a brilliant movie Loved everything Martin Landau as Legosi was hilarious. My favourite line was Bill Murray returning from Mexico after his failed sex change "i wouldn't have the strength to go on, if it wasn't for these men.." [he points and camera pivots to reveal a mariachi band playing]😂
Развлечения
Ed Wood doesn't deserve a depressing character study, what he deserved was this, a genuinely great film with a truly inspiring message: Visions are worth fighting for, why spend your life making someone else's dreams?
I miss THIS Johnny Depp.
He mentioned something about wanting to do films that his kids could see, well now they have an entire franchise to sit through, get back to doing good films!
4422bon Me too. Big-time.
And THIS Tim Burton.
And he misses you.
Amen. This was great, then Scissorhands, then WTF happened??
What I want on my tombstone:
HE LOVED PEOPLE
HE ALSO LOVED MONSTERS FROM OUTER SPACE
On my Tombstone I want Cheese, Onions, Green Peppers.
One of my all-time favorites, such an underrated masterpiece
swampthing94 I agree
Should have won best picture
Tim Burton was definitely the right guy to do this story.
God, I remember a time when the phrase "the always-inventive Tim Burton" wasn't a sarcastic joke :(
Those were the days...
here's still not that bad.... just doesn't get good stories
+Anantha he's*
+Lexi Kamen Turner Tim must be doing something right. People are still giving him millions and millions and millions of dollars to make films and they're being seen all over the world. Throwing out a one sentence put down of a man who's now in his 3rd decade of making films seems like standard internet brainlessness. When's your next cinematic masterpiece coming out Lexi?
JohnWesley Downey Uhm, right. Because, obviously, making money is the only standard by which we judge the quality of a work of art. That's why Michael Bay is currently in the poor house, whilst František Vláčil was consistently rolling in the Benjamins.
I'm not a filmmaker, but my career is focused on film history, criticism, analysis and theory - currently writing three chapters on the representation and implication of girlhood in the Czechoslovak New Wave - I imagine you, yourself, are well versed in film criticism? You seem to know a lot about estimating a film's worth...
They sound so happy when they talk about the movie. It's nice to hear them like that.
In my Top 5 for 1994
The legendary Martin Landau (1928-2017) deserved his Academy Award
Landau was great in this, but I still would’ve voted for Samuel L Jackson for Pulp Fiction. Not mad though.
He was up against Jackson for Pulp Fiction, though, so....while he was certainly terrific, a case can be made that it should have been SLJ.
@@erakfishfishfish. Agree with you.
Burton's best movie by a distance.
+Nameless Paladin Sweeney Todd is a strong contender in my book.
+Crom Cthulhuson I agree.
A V i think Edward Scissorhands or Beetlejuice is a little stronger. Don't get me wrong, I love it. It's just that I think when we're talking about the best of Burton, Edward Scissorhands stands taller
From a technical standpoint its easily his best.. no whimsical over the top bullshit. It's straight forward, well directed, and a vehicle where all the actors stand out rather than centered around one.
Big Fish is a close second
"It's not a monster movie, It's a supernatural thriller!"
1994 was an amazing year in movies. Ed Wood is Burton's best film, IMO. Depp was perfect here and this was before they sold out
Kevin Muller I disagree on the selling out aspect, selling out is when you change everything including yourself and art for money and money only. Tim and Johnny never sold out. They were given too much money and tried to out do each project with a bigger project. Selling out is the band KISS going from Love Gun to I Was Made For Loving You
I totally agree this is Burton's best. Batman was also awesome, but none of the others compare.
A very good year to be a cinephile. This and Pulp Fiction
Johnny Depp got snubbed of a Best Actor oscar nomination.
Allen M. Quinn Should of won in my opinion. I love Pulp Fiction and The Shawshank Redemption and I think both are better movies than Ed Wood, but Depp's performance is better than any other from that year that I've seen.
Allen M. Quinn True, although it was such a crowded year in all categories, especially in the Best Actor and Supporting Actor categories. 1994 was such an incredible year for motion pictures, it even outstripped the previous year that gave us such all-time classics as *SCHINDLER'S LIST, THE PIANO,* and *PHILADELPHIA.*
Maybe Martin Landau's incredible performance overshadowed Depp in the movie. But I don't think Deep would ever have won. It wasn't really "acting" the way the Academy likes to see it.
Allen M. Quinn At least Landau was nominated and won, which is kind of unheard for a comedy.
Quentin Tarantino loves this film pretty much for the same reason, they give, He just went on about how Ed would just pour his heart and soul into these dreadful little movies, But if you watch it nowadays, Glen or Glenda is a nice little plea for understanding.
Well, sort of. But then there is the stock footage of a factory. And the weird monolouge by Narrator Bella Lagosi. Who can forget lines like "Beware the big green dragon. Snips and snails and puppy dogs tails?"
It's like Wood is poring out his agonized confusion about what boys and girls are made of.
Tarantino has a thing where he always asks for one more shot because why? Cue the whole cast and crew: “because we love making movies!”
I think Tarantino said Black Sunday is one of his favourite 3 films and that is a B movie about vampires too. I really like it but because the Vampires surname in it is Vajda like my name.
That's what TV's Frank said in a MST3K book. He couldn't make a decent film by any standards, but he cared about people like transvestites.
@Retro Storm i mean, think about tarantino’s biggest influences: exploitation films, 70s kung fu flicks, and grindhouse action movies. cheese is written into his filmmaking dna. two different kinds of the same contribution to culture in terms of those filmmakers’ work.
If Siskel and Ebert didn't invent movie reviews on television, they certainly perfected the art.
Australia's answer were David and Margaret.
Spot-on reviews here by our favorite critics. *ED WOOD* truly was one of the best films of 1994, and - Sam Jackson's sore-loser reaction notwithstanding - Martin Landau was simply unbeatable in the Best Supporting Actor category this year. Not only was this his 3rd nomination within 6 years, but this was easily his greatest performance. No one else could have won Best Supporting Actor that year. No one else. It was Martin Landau's year in this category. Completely written-off so many years earlier due to his intense alcoholism - which had nearly cost him his life - Landau successfully beat his demons and launched one of the most successful comebacks in film history. R.I.P. Ya did good. 👍
Hard to believe both these guys are gone now.
delavalmilker very sad indeed
delavalmilker I know 😕
I miss the old Johnny Depp and Tim Burton too.
Somehow Siskel once answered a post I made on some message board decades ago. I had posted something to the effect that some actress was cute and he was among the people who answered my post. His user name was "The Siskel Kid."
Absolutely Gene's best movie review.
I agree
It's weird how fulfilling it is to see them get so excited by a movie, talking over each other just so they can both fully express how much they loved it.
It is very rare that we get to see Gene gush over a film such as Ed Wood.
i remember when i saw this, when i was 11, and just knowing this was a special movie. it was one of the first films to spark my love of movies
Check out his review of St. Elmo's Fire. His best negative review
Ed Wood is one of the best films ever made. Period.
It is. A great movie about the worst filmmaker that ever lived.
Maybe the most enthusiastic thumbs up review ever from S&E. I think this was possibly their favorite film, because in essence it was about the process of film making.
I always remember Quentin Tarentino talking about this film. And Ed's passion for filmmaking, and how the fact he had no talent for it, was not an issue.
Ebert gave it 3.5 stars. Siskel put it number 3 on his top 10 list for 1994.
@@nikosvault Thanks. It deserved 4 stars, though!
Good God, I love this movie so damn much. It plays on a fine line perfectly between humor and the dark drama of a pathetic real life.
Hilarious,unethical and totally off the
-rails and Martin Landau got his osc-
-ar for his dead on performance as
Bela Lugosi.🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
@Johnny Skinwalker - re: "Good God...." Do you often write to God via RUclips Comments?? Does God ever respond?
@@warriormanmaxx8991 yea but I don't always respond back, sadly.
To anyone who loves Ed Wood for the reasons these guys talk about, watch the movie American Movie from 1999. A fantastic documentary about a guy's tireless struggle to make "the great American movie" without having much talent to go with his infectious enthusiasm. It's great
These guys NAILED it -- their review made me want to see "Ed Wood" AGAIN (& I've already seen it at least 3 times)! As for "Plan 9..." being "the worst movie ever made" -- hey, there's one thing you've got to say for it: While it may be "bad," it is NEVER DULL and it's always "watchable"...and that's more that you can say for LOTS of movies!
I’ve always said the greatest crime a movie can commit is to be boring. Plan 9 is terrible, but never boring. It’s awfulness is the appeal.
MST3K really hit all the truly bad movies. Manos: Hands of Fate was terrible, and Red Zone Cuba really hit that sweet spot of terrible acting, writing, and editing all in one go. Plan9 was at least comprehensible.
I often think "y was S & E so good?" It's several factors but unlike young utube critics, they knew their subjects. Plus very little humor unlike modern critics using a ton of humor and a modicum of intelligence
Man 1994 was one of the best years in movie history. We got the Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Forest Gump, the Lion King, Speed, Ed Wood, Leon the Professional and the Mask all in that year.
I love this movie. And I really miss these guys.
R.I.P Siskel & Ebert. An eternal Thumbs Up!
Thank you for helping me admire and appreciate the magic of movies.
Ed Wood is stunningly brilliant.
This is easily Burton's best film.
Both Depp and Landau are terrific in this (of course, ML won the BS Oscar). I loved this movie!
8/10 Very good movie, best Burton or Depp ever did.
Angelus 9/10 for me
Sleepy Hollow? Or Sweeney Todd?
siskel was way smarter than roeper. roeper's reviews arelike my uncle or something talking about a movie
Well Siskel left huge shoes to fill. I’m not a Roeper fan either but I would not envy being Siskel’s follow up act.
This was amazing praise for a great movie. I miss watching S&E. I got to meet Roger Ebert once. A really good guy.
I’m a fan of other Tim Burton works, but this is his best in so many ways. The story comes together so nicely, it has this positive attitude and it really motivates you. Not everyone will share the same vision or be resentful, but as long as you have passion and the drive you will go far!
Ed Wood was Orson Welles.......sans the talent.
A very funny film. “We don’t have a permit. Run!”
This film is a masterpiece! Nothing Burton did before or after this comes close.
Edward Scissorhands is right up there. If the name Ed is in there, watch it!
I miss these guys...so many of RUclips critics who wake up one morning and decided to review movies on their channels can't come close to these two masterful well spoken and articulate lovers of cinema...they were an original and the reel deal.
Siskel was right. This film should be seen at film schools all over the world. But I would have gone a step further. It should be seen by everyone. It is a tribute to all the people who try their best and fame alluded them in life,but it soon did find them,and deservely so. Tim Burton's best,easily.
I completely agree ! Just watched watched it again tonight. Just brilliant !
Went to see with with a ladyfriend who afterward was in disbelief the movies shown being made were real.
The three best Tim Burton movies ever imo were Ed Wood, Big Eyes, and Big Fish. All three were also relatively unsuccessful compared to his lesser films, unfortunately.
"Two Big Thumbs Up for the unique Ed Wood. A film that will be especially entertaining for people who like cheerful trashiness in those old B-movies. We loved this film and this film loves the movies."
The video quality makes Gene Siskel look as if he were melting.
I've seen it once and it's amazing I remember being inspired by the analog film making depicted here
Hard to believe it bombed at the box office. One of my all-time favorites.
I think people didn’t know what it was, and it’s pretty true to form for it to fail at the box office lol! It’s probably the best homage to Ed that we could give him haha. This is my favorite film of all time!
@@BrettOPediaTVwhat was it up against at the same time?
I truly love this film! Johnny Depp was incredible in the film. Actually, everyone was incredible in this film. This is a film that I will take with me to the island 🏝 😀
This movie is one of those films like Star Wars, or Back to the Future, or The Shawshank Redemption that just has that warm, magical attribute attached to it that makes it timeless.
It's not easy to make a film like that, and I feel like I like the film more and more each time I see it.
Couldn't say it better 👏
the most optimistic film of 1994
100% agreed! This is Tim Burton's best film by far.
Loved Ed Wood, it's inspirational and at the same time terrifying. The idea that someone can love making movies as much as Ed, but be remembered as the Worst Director of All Time; it just terrifies me. Just knowing that you could throw everything into a movie, and be so horribly ridiculed and mocked. I love this movie regardless.
Move it's arms and legs around. Make like it's killing you!
The scene that single-handedly won Landau the Oscar. And i just knew he would while I was sitting in the audience watching it when EW first came out. Spectacular performance.
like I saw Boogi Nights cuz of Ebert should I really see it
Sinise, Jackson and Landau should have had the Oscar split in three pieces.
This and Hugo are on my top 3 favorite movies about filmmaking and I wish both of them were alive to see the best one, the Disaster Artist
All 3 of those are great films. Hugo and Ed Wood are so underrated.
Unpopular opinion, but I loved Zach and Miri Make a Porno. So much of the film was inspired by how Kevin Smith filmed Clerks.
1. Big Fish
2. Batman
3. Beetlejuice
4. Ed Wood
Big Fish above Batman? 😑 Millennials
Tim Burton's masterpiece. His filmography was all downhill from here.
No. Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd, Frankenweenie, Big Fish, those were good films.
ECL28E
I never said he hasn't made a decent film since (although I'd disagree with you on a couple of those), just that this was his creative apex.
Sleepy Hollow was great and so was Big Fish.
GreenGretel backhanded compliment.
GreenGretel not
Gosh, remember when Johnny Depp and Tim Burton were this good?
I remember loving this movie.. especially Martin Landau
I went around for about two months telling all and sundry: "I will create a race of atomic super-men!"
It's because he loved filmmaking, that's true, but he liked doing it as fast as possible, because money was most important (he was always poor) and time is money. Ed's true skill is that he was incredibly fast at everything - typing, directing, casting, everything he did at lightning speed. He was so fast that he could never make time to sit down and think "Is this any good"? Combine that with his optimism and drinking, he was blind to any of his flaws. I learned this from reading his biography
I love the way Ebert starts with, "WELL YOU KNOW, MEAN GENE..."
The whole point of the movie, and maybe the best part, is where Ed Woo runs into Orson Wells for a couple minutes and gets some endearing encouragement, about following your dreams, and making them happen "for yourself" as well as others. They didn't even mention that clever scene here. :(
I absolutely agree and it’s even more surprising as you say, because I think it’s this scene that reinforces the point Burton was making and that Siskel correctly identified. One of them is this great, visionary auteur, and the other is this absolutely talentless hack, but they still absolutely know where they are both coming from and they both speak the same language when it comes to making movies. They are both true “amateurs” in the absolute sense of doing what they do for love. No matter that they are both at polar opposite ends of the scale, they are living their lives according to the same rules, the same pressures, the same passion. Marvellous scene.
The film Eddie the Eagle has a very similar scene, only with ski jumpers instead of film directors. Now, Ed Wood is light years ahead of Eddie the Eagle in terms of quality, but it’s nice to see that theme play out again.
I loved it, and loved the fact that I loved it. A friend I saw it with started laughing during the opening credits and was still laughing as we left the diner and got into our cars to drive home.
This movie is brilliant. I can't believe how underrated it is!
There's a Dolores Fuller interview where she speaks of Johnny Depp's portrayal of EW, she lived with him during the time depicted in the film.
Depp's best role.
I agree
I'm watching "Plan 9" right now - 10/26 - it's almost genius in its corn-acity. Is that a word?
Ed Wood is certainly one of the best movies about movies. I think Gene would also have been very enthused with The Disaster Artist
Wow. This is literally the first positive review I've seen from those guys. Although I'm British so haven't seen a lot from them. But from what I have seen they're usually very negative. I'm glad they enjoyed this underrated classic.
Can we still think cross dressers are kooky and funny?
You have to consider how his cross dressing is portrayed in the film: a quirk to be sure, but when he surrounds himself with people who support him and he dresses in the way he wants to dress, he becomes his best self.
One of my favorite movies ever. My favorite Tim Burton AND Johnny Depp movie.
This is Burton's masterpiece.
Top 3 Tim Burton Movies
1. Ed Wood
2. Pee Wee's Big Adventure
3. Frankenweenie (original version, have yet to see his new version)
You forgot Batman and Edward Scissorhands Beetlejuice!
1. Ed Wood
2. Edward Scissorhands
3. Beetlejuice
4. Sweeney Todd
5. Batman
I adored Edward Scissor hands.
orbison Nice bike, Peeeee Weeeee.
It was invigorating that Burton made this movie for people who love good as well as bad movies. Why else would he have had Depp's Wood gain encouragement from Orson Welles. And I loved (as everything else in this great movie) Bela Lugosi ( played by an Oscar earning late great Martin Landau who became Lugosi as Sir Ben became Gandhi) for his indignant, UNflattered reaction @ being compared by a film consultant to Boris Karloff!!!!!
I saw this movie at the NYC premiere . Tim Burton came out before the movie and said a few words (he seemed to be in a hurry and did not seem comfortable in a crowded theatre). The movie was fantastic! When it let out , I spotted SPIKE LEE leaving the theatre with this bitter sourpuss look on his face. LOL. They even gave out movie brochure booklets as we went in..I still have mine. When you watch this TODAY - some feelings may be altered as the lady that played Vampira (at that point ; Tim Burton's girlfriend) had a bitter split up a few years later. She had keys to one of his storage warehouses and was selling his stuff off behind his back ! I wonder if anyone got that giant foam rubber octopus ?
Such a sweet review. I am a fan of "bad stuff" (worst of lists, etc. Hey, I like a good train wreck.) That being said: I have watched this review many times and will again soon. Love it!
I don't know if this is true,but supposedly Milos Forman was an early contender to direct this.I'm glad he didn't;Consider his biopics---Amadeus,The People Vs. Larry Flynt,Man On The Moon---while all good,I really don't think I'd want to see his take on Ed Wood.
And I sure as HELL didn't want Courtney Love as Dolores Fuller--or Vampira--or Kathy O'Hara---aw,hell,I just don't want Courtney Love!!!
brilliant film. seen it many times and still rewatch it every year. 10/10. i even like "Plan 9 from outer space" too. cheap production values but great narrative and directing. clever use of stock footage. ed wood was a genius and still under-rated
@SGTItachi47 The people who call him The Worst Director of All Time, I simply tell them "Then you haven't seen the works of Coleman Francis." Ed Wood's enthusiasm for film shone with every frame. Coleman Francis made you question the futility of existence.
The acting in this film is great, the movie is funny and inspiring. I even did a review of Bride Of The Monster on my channel
Johnny Depp was as good as it gets in this movie but Martin Landau stole the show for me.
It catches the passion for cinema with a warm heart. Burton made one of the biggest tributes ever
One of the greatest biopics ever made.
Agreed. In terms of biopics, I rank it up there with American Splendor and 24 Hour Party People
I wish Tim would go back to making movies the quality of Ed Wood instead of making Ed Wood-quality movies.
My reaction was that it was the best movie I had ever seen.
This was a good movie. But it also portrayed Mr. Wood as more wholesome and less weird than he really was. He didn't change the name to "Plan nine" because his producer wanted him too. He changed it to avoid paying back his depts. He became a heavy drinker. He later started making porn, straight and gay. He seemed to be quite confused about his sexualiy. But God love him, you got to love "Glen or Glenda." in his own way, Mr. Wood was a pioneer.
True, but if it was more factual, it probably wouldn't be the masterpiece it is.
He had a vision and made it happen. Whether you believe his movies are good, bad, or in my opinion so bad they're good, you gotta give the man huge props for actually going out and making the movies he wanted to make. Glenn or Glenda is one hell of an achievement I think. In the 50s being a transvestite was extreme taboo and along with homosexuality it was known as a "contagious disease to the mind". In a time when simply being a transvestite was frowned upon, he went out and made a movie about it. He went out and said "Let me educate you, you predigest assholes.". He's been dead for about 40 years and has a huge fan base. Too bad he was dead by the time he was noticed.
Johnny Depp keeps getting hosed out of oscar nominations, first this, then "Black Mass" god forbid, he get an nomination for anything other then playing a pirate!
emma duncan if Leo can get himself an Oscar after waiting a while, chances are, Johnny Depp will get an Oscar as well
emma duncan How the hell did he not get nominated for *BLACK MASS?!?*
He was also nominated for Finding Neverland and Sweeney Todd.
Depp should have got the Oscar for Ed Wood and Landau deservedly one it
1994: A VERY good year for supporting actors!
the fact that they recorded this with a human eye ball with all the little squiggly lines in it is bad ass
One of my favorite movies of all time.
This was Scott and Larry's first of the four biopics they wrote. After they redeemed themselves from "Problem Child", they moved on to write this film and it received critical acclaim, leading the duo to write the next 3 biopics after this: The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon and Dolemite is My Name.
Such a lovely piece of history this review - a movie depicting honesty, with heart, enthusiastic vital optimism, the story of a man doomed to suffer and die in obscurity………I’m talking about Ed not Tim you pessimist!!!
odd that Lucas, of all people, would be the source of that quote.
"When we disagree one of us is wrong. When we agree both of us are right" Rog
This WAS Burton's ultimate achievement. Bill Murray owns it like JD and ML. But can he ever top this? I doubt it. ALICE IN WONDERLAND and CHARLIE were crap.
I can't believe the movie is almost 30 years old.
what a brilliant movie
Loved everything Martin Landau as Legosi was hilarious.
My favourite line was Bill Murray returning from Mexico after his failed sex change
"i wouldn't have the strength to go on, if it wasn't for these men.."
[he points and camera pivots to reveal a mariachi band playing]😂
Martin Landau was brilliant...
He was pitch perfect
Looks like he is back on track with Frankenweenie..
tim burtons best movie a classic
Ed Wood is fantastic, but its not his best film.
"This is the film they'll remember me by..." applies just as much to Burton as it did to Wood back then.