ED WOOD (1994)
Director: Tim Burton
Cinematographer: Stefan Czapsky
“You should feel lucky! Eddie’s the only fella in town who doesn’t pass judgement on people!”
“That’s right! If I did I wouldn’t have any friends!”
I’m not the first, nor will I be the last, to point out how joyful this movie is, so I shall make my “analysis” of it very brief.
Just as Tim Burton was on the cusp of MOR remake misery, he made one of the greatest LGBT films of all time. It has never been sold as such, however, as it was financed by a subsidiary of Disney.
I mean, we wouldn’t want to offend any WASPs now, would we?!
Edward D Wood Jr was John Waters before John Waters ever knew what being John Waters was all about. Mr Wood had a troupe of flamboyant stars who, I’m sure, he absolutely adored. Sadly, Wood has been criticised for slipping into “perversion” in his later career, which is terribly objective. I am pro-sex worker, so do not judge him negatively for finding his voice in erotica.
Sex is awesome, so if you wish to pour your creativity into it, then so be it. There isn’t much you can’t say to someone after rolling around on a bed naked with them, which I believe to be a positive thing. Some sad individuals believe it’s worth lynching others over.
Burton’s film indulges in the heightened-reality of Hollywood movies of the post-WWII era, so it’s worth taking everything you see with a pinch of salt. Bela Lugosi, for instance, looks very healthy in the actual Bride of the Monster, so his frail portrayal, including walking cane, by the wonderful Martin Landau is somewhat dubious.
I also, perhaps worryingly, admire Wood’s writing style. He attempts to inject much levity into his horror stories, which has been described as clumsy and amateurish. I dare you to find Stanley Kubrick or Steven Spielberg genre films without the same style.
Some filmmakers just have more money and industry respect, I guess.
I do find it sad that Burton chose to erase Jeffrey Jones from his recent Beetlejuice sequel, which is an attitude that pisses over everything Burton establishes here. Apparently, there are people in this world not worthy of Burton’s attention. This is not in the Edward D Wood Jr spirit.
For shame!
Burton should have shoved Jones’ dick in everyone’s faces and said: “Fuck you!” to Keaton, Ryder, and O’Hara. That’s the only version of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice I’d be interested in seeing. As it is, I’m certain Pee Wee Herman and Bruce Wayne would not approve.
On a personal note, something very similar happened to me, like what happens between Ed and his girlfriend in this film. I came out to her by wearing women’s trainers when we met up one afternoon in town. I still remember the moment. I was stood on the patio of Sheffield’s Showroom Cinema. I didn’t think she’d focus so much on the pink trainers, but she couldn’t not stare at them, horrified.
Tragically, she just thought it was the weirdest thing in the world.
We broke up later that year.
She did end up apologising for her attitude, but by then I could no longer trust her. I will love her until the day I die, even though she has already departed, but my trust in her has gone.
Be careful who you come out to, boys and girls, as not every coming out story has a Hollywood ending!
Urgh, the sound on my DVD copy of this film is just the worst! It’s as subtle as a piano falling down a flight of stairs. I think I will definitely be upgrading to the Blu-ray, if Disney is allowing such things nowadays.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
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