Big Fish

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito, Alison Lohman, Marion Cotillard, Miley Cyrus
Directed by: Tim Burton
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Box Office: $66,809,693
2003

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Awards:
The Movie Files Movie Championship II: Sweet Sixteen

Summary:Aging Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) is well known for his preposterous tales of his youth. However, his tall tales have alienated his son (Billy Crudup) who comes home to confront his father and discover the truth about his youth.

Review:

Tim: Big Fish is a very strange but fascinating film. Very few films like this one are made nowadays. Tim Burton weaves in and out of the present and Ewan McGregor's past/fantasy life so quickly that at times the film can become clunky and confusing. For the most part, however, the story unfolds as it should, keeping the audience in suspense as to the validity of the stories we hear.

I give Tim Burton a great deal of credit for creating a visionary film that really needs to be seen. However, it also leaves you feeling a little cheated. There is so much pomp and glamour that at times it moves on without real substance to the film. You can marvel at Burton's visible attempt, but cringe at the difficulty in the actual mechanics of the storytelling.

Big Fish is a very motivational film that offers quite a few life lessons in the entertaining story. I found especially touching to be the most difficult moments between father and son. When we see this strained relationship, we see the most human moments of Burton's work. That is where Big Fish succeeds most.

I found the ending of the film to be the most touching and Burton wraps it up in a very fitting manner for the type of movie it is. I doubt very many people will be disappointed by the film's conclusion, even if you are in doubt as to the rest of the movie.

Ewan McGregor gives a terrific, charming performance that makes the movie enjoyable. Albert Finney musters up some very powerful emotions in his role. The rest of the cast is decent. I was a little disappointed in DeVito's small role. I felt his talent was wasted.

All in all, Big Fish is a touching film that really is worth seeing. It is definitely not without its faults, but not a bad film at all.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Edward Scissorhands, A Life Less Ordinary, Down With Love, Life as a House