Why Tim Burton Finds Most Biopics Dull and Uninspired
Tim Burton has little time for most biographical films, which he considers artificial and tedious. Yet his 1994 feature Ed Wood stands apart, shaped by his genuine respect for its subject rather than the conventions of the genre.
When one thinks of a Tim Burton production, certain elements spring to mind: the presence of Johnny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter, a shadowy, offbeat universe, and perhaps a chorus of slightly unsettling children. These are the hallmarks audiences have come to expect. Yet, in 1994, Burton took an unexpected turn with a project that broke from his established style—a biographical film centred on Edward D. Wood Jr., the infamous American director known for his less-than-stellar horror efforts. Ed Wood, while featuring Depp, was neither a gothic fantasy nor a surreal escapade. Instead, it was a comedic drama grounded in reality, with a cast that included Bill Murray and Sarah Jessica Parker.
What made this choice all the more surprising was Burton’s well-documented aversion to the biopic format. In conversation with Mark Salisbury for the book Burton on Burton, he was forthright:
“I hate most biopics. I find that most biopics are stodgy and really boring, because people, in my opinion, take too much of a reverential approach, and it’s fake.”
He went on to say,
“Every time I’ve seen a biopic, it just doesn’t feel real. There’s something about it, the sheer fact that it’s a movie and that an actor is portraying someone, means there’s a level of facade and fakery to it.”
Burton’s Unique Approach to Ed Wood
Determined to avoid the pitfalls he so disliked, Burton approached Ed Wood from a different angle. Rather than striving for strict accuracy or a documentary feel, he allowed his own admiration for Wood to inform the film’s tone. He drew inspiration from his personal encounters with horror legend Vincent Price, weaving these impressions into the depiction of Wood’s friendship with Bela Lugosi, one of the original Draculas. As Burton explained,
“In some ways I’m a purist. I wasn’t there with these people, I don’t know them, but I have a feeling about them. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m doing my feeling.”
The project nearly failed to materialise. Many doubted that the story would appeal to a wide audience, and Burton’s insistence on shooting in black and white led Columbia to abandon the film. These concerns were not entirely unfounded; despite critical acclaim and two Academy Awards, Ed Wood lost around $5 million and struggled commercially. Nevertheless, Burton still regards it as one of his finest works.
Recent Work and Ongoing Influence
In the past decade, Burton has been relatively quiet, directing only two features: Dumbo, after which he suggested he was unlikely to collaborate with Disney again, and the much-anticipated Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to his 1980s cult classic. He has also signed on to direct a new version of the 1950s science fiction tale Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, with a script by Gillian Flynn, best known for Gone Girl.
Beyond directing, Burton has taken on a producing role for the Netflix series Wednesday, a spin-off from The Addams Family. He directed eight episodes of the show, which has garnered four Emmy awards and features a cast including Steve Buscemi, Christopher Lloyd, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.