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A Sony release. Written by John August; directed by Tim Burton; starring Ewan McGregor and Billy Crudup . Released to DVD on April 27, 2004.  Big Fish is a movie that effectively fell through the cracks. One of the very few films to have been released in December that generated little Oscar buzz of any kind, Big Fish was virtually ignored by critics and audiences alike (only composer Danny Elfman was nominated for an Oscar for his work on this project. Elfman thought so highly of his chances of winning that he didn’t even bother to attend the ceremony). Overlooked in this never ending press focusing on films like Monster, Mystic River and The House of Sand and Fog was one of the most beautiful and joyous films of the year, Big Fish. But, when the talk turns to awards and Oscar nominations in December and January, who has time to spare to focus on the light, breezy cinematic equivalent of confectionery sugar? Albert Finney assumes the lead role in Big Fish as the charismatic Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor plays the younger version of Edward). Despite his charming nature and good heart, Edward is estranged from his son, Will (Billy Crudup). The crux of the matter is that Edward has an innate passion for hyperbole, often describing events in his life with an over-the-top flair for detail and grandeur. Unable to get over the fact that his father tells "lies", Will and Edward rarely speak. This situation changes when Will returns home with his pregnant wife, intent on mending his relationship with his father before his first born arrives. Will is a no-nonsense character whose position on his father’s stories/fabrications is fairly easily documented: he’s against them, period. Edward’s position on this matter is far harder to discern. Each story he tells (and that Burton lavishly creates on-screen) contains certain truths and insights into his character and mindset, it’s just a matter of figuring out which elements they are and how they relate. Burton often juxtaposes Edward’s glorious and unabashedly warm stories from his past–the time he met his wife, how he came to own a town and how he engaged in covert ops for the US Army–with scenes of drab ‘real life’ in the film. The marked difference between the tone (and lighting) of the two offers much clarity and insight into why Edward chooses to tell his version of things the way he does: it makes life more interesting and exciting. And Burton captures this spirit perfectly in his cinematic vision.  I enjoyed the experience of screening Big Fish moreso than any other movie in recent memory. The film is bright and offers a host of entertaining and well-developed sequences and characters at which to marvel. Certain plot points end up in the air, but this is negligible because the movie itself is such a pleasure to watch. This is a crowning achievement for Burton.
jackson casey yes, it's true: The whale shark is the largest fish on earth, growing over 40 feet in size. |
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