RMOCJ: Ed Wood

Movies and movie criticism can be terrible, cynical and soul-crushing.  So why do we go to the movie?  Random Moment of Cinematic Joy highlights a moment, scene, character or movie that is awesome in a way that can refill your reservoir of faith in films.

Ed Wood is for me the ultimate cinematic sorbet.  

If I see a terrible movie and need to cleanse my theater-going palette, Tim Burton's ode to the worst director ever is my go-to choice.

I could talk about Johnny Depp's incredible performance as the always smiling title character.  Or Martin Landau's imagining of the old and broken Bela Lugosi.  Or the amazing supporting cast ranging from Patricia Arquette to Jeffrey Jones to Bill Murray to George "The Animal" Steele.  But for me, this is simply the ultimate valentine to Hollywood.

There are scenes that stick with me.  Wood's first interaction with Lugosi as he is coffin shopping.  Wood's random run-in with Orson Welles.  His sheepish, but brave, admission that Wood likes women's clothes.

But the scene that always sticks with me is when Wood begins shooting Glen or Glenda.  They shoot with Wood as the lead looking in a window wistfully.  He yells cut and the crew asks if he wants another take.  Wood immediately answers that no, the shot is perfect.  But that description minimizes the moment.  Depp's Wood is filled with energy and optimism.  It's not the shot that's perfect; it's the fact that he is being allowed to do the thing he loves.  He's not a terrible director because of a lack of ability or an ego (though those are factors).  No, he's a terrible director because he loves the medium so much.

Ed Wood makes me smile like no other movie.  And it makes me anxious to head to the theaters again and give myself completely over to the cast and crew of storytellers whether it's a blockbuster or an independent.