Batman and Beyond
The Directing
Genius of Tim Burton
No discussion of great contemporary film directors is complete without the mention of Tim Burton. His creative genius has brought a unique style all his own to Hollywood, exploring a wide range of characters and topics from Beetlejuice to Batman and beyond. While Batman is certainly Burton's greatest financial success, I believe that two of his other films are his "crown jewels" of film. These films, Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood, while sharing a similarly named main character, are otherwise drastically different in story and style.
Edward Scissorhands is the story of a robot (Johnny Depp) brought to life by a scientist (Vincent Price) who dies before he can replace a crude series of shears for hands. Scissorhands is a heartwarming tale about a being who goes through the fame, misunderstanding, and isolation of being different. Although this touching story could have been ruined by an overly sentimental mood, masterful direction by Burton and incredible performances by Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder relate the story gently without becoming sickeningly sappy. Written, directed, and produced by Burton, Edward Scissorhands is his original masterpiece, and a film that suceeds in merging comedy, heart, with a dash of satire, in a way very few films (or filmmakers) could accomplish.
Ed Wood, based on the life of Edward D. Wood, Jr., writer, director, and producer of films, is a film that is extremely hard to explain. This film succeeds in its goal in many ways, in that it relates the story of an odd man (Wood) in a satirically campy way, but also gives you a greater respect for this man. Driven by astounding performances by Johnny Depp as Ed Wood and Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi, Ed Wood is a film that proves biopics can be fun as well as touching, even though this particular biographical film is about what many consider the "Worst Director of All Time."
Burton's most recent film, Mars Attacks!, is pure Tim Burton style. First, and most obvious, is that its campy, zany style is obviously influenced by the director as well as the brilliant performances by the wide range of talented actors. Secondly, Mars Attacks! is a B-movie. Not really a parody of one, but actually a cheesy sci-fi B-movie that seems to come straight from the '50's.
Burton was criticized by many for this very fact; they didn't understand why Burton would make such an obviously campy movie. The fact is that Burton seems to like these B-movies; Ed Wood is evidence to support this. At the very least, he views these movies with a different eye than most people. Say what you will about Mars Attacks!, but it's funny. Its silly attitude is carried out through the entire movie, and features great performaces by Jack Nicholson as the President, Martin Short as the President's aide, and countless others, including Pierce Brosnan, Michael J. Fox, Annete Bening, Glenn Close, Sarah Jessica Parker, Danny DeVito, and Natalie Portman. I've never seen so many great actors in one movie.
I respect Burton for making Mars Attacks! Who else would make a movie about B-movies (Ed Wood) and then make a B-movie of his own. It's things like this that make Tim Burton the great director that he is, and why I'm sure he'll be bringing great movies to Hollywood for a long time to come.
(See commentary on Burton's Batman films in their appropriate sections in the "Movies" section of the Lair of the Dark Knight.)
© 1998 Michael Day. Batman and all related characters and indicia are trademarks of DC Comics, Inc. All rights reserved.
MOVIES
Tim Burton