My quest to watch the IMDB top 250!
This past weekend I went to Germany to visit my friends that I met in Prague (but they live in Germany.) Julia and Russell ended up having to cancel, but I still got to hang out with Jonas…on a farm…with sheep…and a giant trampoline…boo-yah!
Oh and also we watched a movie. In the guest room at Jonas’ there was a small drawer with movies…and one of the movies was one that had been on my blockbuster list since I started it, but it was always “ultra long wait” or whatever the hell they labeled it. It’s also one that my mom continually says I need to see. It’s also one that I’ve heard was Johnny Depp’s best work (I know…aren’t ALL of them his best? *sigh*) It’s also one of the ones with Johnny Depp, before he was…Johnny Depp (aka before Pirates.) Any guesses yet? Well the answer is, currently at number 198…
Here’s the synopsis based on IMDB…
The life of Edward D. Wood Jr., hailed as the worst director (of Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), Glen or Glenda (1953) and Bride of the Monster (1955)) of all time.
A biopic of the life and work of the legendary 'worst director of all time', Edward D. Wood Jr., concentrating on the best-known period of his life in the 1950s, when he made Glen or Glenda (1953), Bride of the Monster (1955) and Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), and focusing on both his transvestism and his touching friendship with the once great but now ageing and unemployed horror star Bela Lugosi.
You can read more at Wikipedia.
Well…yes…I guess that describes it. Johnny Depp’s Ed Wood is a spastic, driven, enthusiastic character who likes to wear women's clothing (but unfortunately is nt very good at actually playing drag.) The voice that he takes on for it is similar to his Willy Wonka in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” although not as extreme. But it’s still a little high pitched, with a back-tongue placement, and lowering of the center vowel towards the lower end of the vowel chart (for those of you who didn’t get it, that’s ok, I’m just trying to prove my linguistics minor was worth something.)
It’s also one of those movies that you watch and continually go “(S)HE’s in this?!?!” So many stars! Sarah Jessica Parker, Bill Murrey, Patricia Arquette, and so many more! And all of them superbly acted. By superbly acted, I mean perfect for the genre. The movie was shot in a style of an Ed Wood movie – as in a 1950s, stylized, horribly directed, B/C/D rated horror film with little to no budget. Ironic seeing as the director was Tim Burton and the opening credits are said to have cost more than an entire Ed Wood film.
The movie is filmed in black and white. There are several possible explanations for this. One is that they wanted to continue the style of an old Horror Movie. Another is that they had an argument over what Bela Lugosi (the original Dracula) would look like in color. It didn’t matter. I thought it worked either way.
But then thing I love best, is that it’s FUNNY. But it’s very subtle. You have to be watching and listening. I’m sure I missed some of the jokes. But that just means I’ll have to watch it again!
Have you seen this movie? What did you think? What should my next Im-Dub-it movie be?
Word of the day: directeur - director
I loved that movie! I'm also a huge Johnny Depp fan! I loved him since 21 Jump Street!
ReplyDeleteHah, we watched Plan 9 From Outer Space and then watched this movie a few weeks later. I should've done it the other way around because I think it would've made more sense *L*
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh...21 Jump Street...I feel so old!
ReplyDeleteJohnny Depp is amazing. He is very strange, though. I guess that adds to his mystique!
Stopping by from SITS!