From the wonderfully warped, miraculous mind of Tim Burton comes this magical, mythical, highly imaginative and most unusual fable. A blithesome, door-to-door Avon lady (warmly played by Wiest) one day ventures out to a decrepit castle atop the mountain behind her suburban neighborhood. What she doesn't know is that the castle is home to Edward, a lonely humanoid with bladed hands who's the brainchild of a brilliant old inventor (played with gusto by Price). She decides to bring Edward home to stay with her family where he gets a taste of cozy suburban life, and also bonds with her doe-eyed, teenage daughter. A strange little idea imbued with Burton's wistful sensibilities turn this into a rich, emotional fantasy showcasing pivotal themes of isolation, self-discovery, and love, uplifted by a wonderous score from Danny Elfman. It also has a cheeky since of humor that pokes fun at the clockwork and monotony of its pastel-painted suburbia with nosy neighbors, and how gossip can spread through a community like wildfire. Depp is asked a lot of in the title role, and really nails each unique facet of a most unique character; this is the first of what became many collaborations between the unparalleled tag team of Burton & Depp, it's wholly original and thus undeniable. ***
Review of Edward Scissorhands
