Ed Wood (DVD, 2004, Special Edition)

A bowl of popcorn, a glass of wine and Ed Wood. What's not to love about a bio-pic focused on a gentleman once dubbed "The Worst Director Ever." Johnny Depp brings a genuine sweetness and pure love of movie making to his portrayal of inept visionary Ed Wood.

Shot in black and white, Tim Burton manages to bring his unique sensibilities to 1950's Los Angeles and capture the low rental charm of B movie making. In Wood's case it might just be a Z. His movies are in that rare "so bad they're good" category.

The movie follows Ed Wood's path to his dream, that of being full-fledged movie director. He writes, acts, and directs with such a intense abandonment of attention to detail and overwrought drama that he is unable to recognize how truly bad the results are. He whole heartedly believes he is an autuer and envisions himself a young Orson Welles. No matter what disaster he produces, he still believes, albeit quite deludedly. Johnny Depp makes you love this loon and root for him.

Outstanding performances by Martin Landau, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of drug addicted Bela Legosi, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Patricia Arquette. Martin Landau's Legosi develops a touching relationship with Wood that is pulled off wonderfully here. It would have been so easy to turn these characters into cartoon figures, but instead they resonate completely. Even if this movie sucked (and it doesn't) I would watch it just to enjoy Bill Murray in the baptism scene.

Ed Wood's films were masterpieces of cinematic incompetence and this movie pays homage to his tragic inability. If you can, watch it with Wood's "Plan 9 from Outer Space," often cited on worst movies ever made lists. It includes such unintentional hilarity as two policemen checking out an alien spaceship by knocking on its front door (even more hilariously, the door is one you would find in a tract housing unit).

Ed Wood's gift was not his ability to make movies, but in his dogged determination to convince others that he could. It was a shame more people didn't see it in the theater. I sincerely encourage you to enjoy this quirky and irresistible film on DVD.