THE PLOT THUS FAR
Experience Tim Burton’s acclaimed, true-life story of the wackiest filmmaker in Hollywood history, Ed Wood, for the first time on Blu-ray – complete with an all-new digital restoration, featuring enhanced picture and sound. Celebrated actor Johnny Depp stars as the high-spirited director who never let terrible reviews or hostile studio executives derail his big-screen dreams. With an oddball collection of showbiz misfits, Ed takes the art of bad moviemaking to an all-time low!
WHAT WE THOUGHT
Ed Wood is a frustrated actor and director who’s small theatre productions barely can get a good word said about them. When a cheap little production company advertises a project about sex change, Wood jumps at the chance and uses his personal fetish for women’s clothing as the hook to get the job. Despite his final project being laughed out of the major studios, Wood now has the taste for it and starts to try and get funding to make his own films. It also happens to be Tim Burton’s perfect film. But, I digress.
When he has a chance encounter with horror film legend Bela Lugosi, now a 74 year-old, foul-mouthed morphine addict wrecked by his lost fame, Ed sees his meal-ticket. Quick for his next fix, Lugosi doesn’t seem to mind that Wood is also an out-and-proud transvestite with a particular fondness for Angora sweaters, and soon begins starring in Wood’s features. Lugosi, played by Martin Landau, gives the story its biggest jolts of energy. Landau is hysterical in scene after scene utilizing the “dirty old man” routine. Remember, there is nothing funnier on earth than an old man who likes profanity. A gentle – albeit somewhat fictionalized – bond forms between Wood and Lugosi. Depp does a spectacular job of fleshing out Wood’s quirky innocence and unbridled passion for moviemaking.
The Blu-Ray comes with a commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes and music video ported over from the DVD. The A/V Quality sports an impeccable 1080p transfer and DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track. While the film has always looked fairly good on home video, this is a revelation. I can barely remember seeing it at the theatrical level, so I can’t quite compare it to that. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!
