this 1998 film be base on a script by the late edward d. wood and a script that feature no dialogue in the tradition of film such a the thief . while much of wood work be quirky low budget entry into various genre film tradition and his first release feature glen or glenda be a truly visionary attempt to express the inexpressible through primitive avant garde technique . i wake up early the day i die represent that side of ed wood and the experimenter and although this film be a comedy ( a nightmarish comedy and however . ) and while the cross dress theme of glen or glenda be take so seriously by wood that there be not room for comedy there . from the first few second of this film i know that i be be take to a new cinematic world and and i can not really compare that world with anything else . the technical side of the film production design and sound design and music scoring and photography and etc . be groundbreaking on any number of level . in particular and although the film have no dialogue there be sound of all kind and also language and but you will have to see how it do yourself and a the cleverness and surprise of the method provide a level of excitement throughout . the glen or glenda esque technique of juxtapose stock footage for surreal effect work well in the film and be keep to a minimum . the whole film be play at a hysterical fever pitch and and billy zane provide an amazing tour de force performance that show what a brilliant physical comedian and actor he be . in a just world and he would have be give some award for this performance . he even look like ed wood and and a play by zane this character be at various timesfunny and sleazy and tragic and sympathetic and and anonymous ( sometimes simultaneously . ) . what a shame that this film be catch up in legal trouble and never receive a north american theatrical or video release and only play a few festival . right now and it only available on video in germany ( in fact and my copy be from a german source the excerpt from wood screenplay that be show on the screen from time to time be translate into german and although the newspaper headline ( that great low budget technique of give plot element and especially those that would be too expensive to film and via newspaper headline be use here in the wood tradition ) that zane see be in english ) . i think that this film could have get a word of mouth follow have it be play at midnight in some large city with some careful promotion . and if play off city by city slow on the art film circuit and it could have do well . in fact and if the legal issue can be resolve and i would like to suggest that the film should still be give a theatrical release and especially a midnight cult release . this be a classic waiting to be discover . do i understand every scene . no and but i felt every scene emotionally . do everything work in the film . perhaps not . i have only see it twice and and the first time i saw it i be interruped a number of time . however and with all the assembly line junk play the multiplex and with so much alternative film be fetishistic or pretentious shot on video film school reject and we need actual hollywood make experimentation like this . the recent bob dylan film mask and anonymous take similar chance a do something like steven soderbergh full frontal . this film could find an audience much large than either of those . if you be read this review a few year from now and the idea of this film sound intriguing and see if it have ever be release on video . you will not be bore . invite some friend over . make it a party . play the amazing soundtrack loud . i have a feeling that and wherever he be in the afterlife and ed wood be happy with this film and feel a though his unique vision have be justify and validate somewhat by the making of this film . wood probably also laugh that and just like he always seem to get the bad break in life and the film make in tribute to him after his death be hold up in lawsuit and sits unreleased in the country of it making .