A change of pace for Tim Burton: a nostalgic biopic of the most revered
bad film-maker in history. Depp gives an excellent,
"peppy" performance as the unfazeable, cross-dressing
Wood, with Landau on Oscar-winning form as the ageing Bela Lugosi. They
are surrounded by a superb supporting cast, who are allowed to ebb and
flow amidst Burton's tempered, black and white photography. Curious
and sensitive, this is a heartfelt movie filled with genuine pathos,
something previously unseen in Burton's work. It's a bit long and tends
to fetishise Lugosi, but overall it's wonderful.
