Magical movie! Nice one Burton!

Rating: 9/10 (9 June 2004)

This is a typically imaginative and charming film from maestro Tim Burton. After the disappointment of Burtons Planet Of The Apes he goes back to his quirky and unique roots. Films like Edward Scissorhands, BeetleJuice, Sleepy Hollow, which are all specialities of Burton and Big Fish has that feeling. It allows him to show of his visual flair, his humour and his charm.
Big Fish follows the relationship between Edward Bloom (Albert Finney), a much liked and respected man who is allows spinning exaggerated yarns about his life. His son Will is becoming disenchanted with his dying fathers refusal to tell the truth about stories of his life. Will feels he does not know who is father really is. The film basically shows much of Eds like in flashback told in the style of one of Blooms creatively licensed fairy tales. At the same time we follow the relationship in the present day between Will and his dad as Will tries to investigate who his dad really is. As the film progresses and we see more fantastical snippets of Edwards life, from his encounter with a Witch that reveals how he will die, to him wooing the love of his life Sandra, who he married and has stayed with ever since. Will gradually begins to discover that many of the strange characters and events his father encountered were in fact real, albeit exaggerated, from his friend Karl the 15ft giant to a strange town called Sceptre. By the end f course Will starts to appreciate his fathers stories all the more and feels a connection long since gone.
This film is filled with charm and pathos and is just a really enjoyably unique film. The fact that these flashbacks are eccentric stories allows Burton to have full visual flourish. The cast are excellent. Finney is great as Ed Bloom, he steals the show. His performance is both touching and full of boisterous charisma. Jessica Lange is also good as his adoring wife. As for the younger versions of Edward and Sandra, well they are excellently portrayed by Ewan McGregor and delightfully loveable Alison Lohman. Billy Crudup is very good to as Will. There is also great support from Danny Devito, Steve Buscemi and Helena Bonham-Carter.
Burtons musical collaborator the legendary Danny Elfman gives us all another virtuoso score and one that is far more understated and low-key than Elfman usually is asked to provide. Overall this is a magical film and a return to form for one of cinemas great visual directors, Tim Burton. ****