Ed Wood (1994)

Director Tim Burton presents a love letter to Ed Wood — derided as the worst filmmaker of all time — Bela Lugosi and 1950s exploitation movies. Depp captures Wood’s sunny optimism, and Martin Landau portrays drug-addicted Lugosi and his waning career.

d: Tim Burton | imdb.com | trailer | Sidekick? | Johnny Depp

Footloose (1984)

Serious execution problems: There isn’t enough dancing, and the music isn’t good enough. Kevin Bacon, the new kid in a town where dancing and rock and roll are banned, needs more dirt under his fingernails. Yet there’s a good idea for a film in there somewhere.

d: Herbert Ross | imdb.com | trailer | “Holding Out for a Hero”