Ed Wood ★★★½ 1994 (R)

Leave it to Burton to bring to the screen the story of a director many consider to be the worst of all time (he's at least in the top three) and who now occupies a lofty position as a cult icon. In this hilarious and touching tribute to a Hollywood maverick with grade-Z vision, detailed homage is paid to Wood's single-mindedness and optimism in the face of repeated failure and lack of financing, even down to the black and white photography. Depp is convincing (and engaging) as Ed Wood, Jr., the cross-dressing, angora-sweater-wearing, low-budget auteur of such notoriously “bad” cult films as “Glen or Glenda” and “Plan 9 From Outer Space.” Depp is supported by terrific portrayals of the motley Wood crew, led by Landau's morphine-addicted, down-on-his-luck Bela Lugosi. Burton focuses on Wood's relationship with Lugosi, whose career is over by the time Wood befriends him. Based on Rudolph Grey's book, “Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood Jr.” 127m/ B VHS, DVD . Max Casella, Johnny Depp, Sarah Jessica Parker, Martin Landau, Bill Murray, Jim Myers, Patricia Arquette, Jeffrey Jones, Lisa Marie, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ned Bellamy, Conrad Brooks, Rance Howard, Juliet Landau, G.D. Spradlin, Mike Starr, George “The Animal” Steele, Gregory Walcott; D: Tim Burton; W: Scott M. Alexander, Larry Karaszewski; C: Stefan Czapsky; M: Howard Shore. Oscars '94: Makeup, Support. Actor (Landau); Golden Globes '95: Support. Actor (Landau); L.A. Film Critics '94: Cinematog., Support. Actor (Landau), Score; N.Y. Film Critics '94: Cinematog., Support. Actor (Landau); Natl. Soc. Film Critics '94: Cinematog., Support. Actor (Landau); Screen Actors Guild '94: Support. Actor (Landau).