BIG surprises!

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2003)

Or not. I mean, this is Tim Burton we're talking about. Imagine a film that makes Edward Scissorhands look tame. A lot of familiar Tim Burton motifs such as use of trees, small dogs, and wisdom from the mouths of children.
Big Fish is profound, and profoundly twisted. Reality bending. A mind-bending experience. I was surprised this film didn't get released for Cannes, this is Palm D'Or material. I saw this at a professional screening and the usually-jaded audience was stunned. It is sentimental, and it got me. I had non-stop tears streaming down my face for the last 20 minutes. A 15 hanky picture.
Danny DeVito blew my mind. This is his greatest role - but it's difficult to single out any one performance because every frame of this masterpiece is balls-out brilliant and the cast are incredible. Especially Helena Bonham Carter of course, and she parlays her multiple roles with inspired grace.
I am not sure how this film's gonna play in Peori. Expect the critics and pundits and awards-mongers to be in love, but will the great gross middle American proletariat get it? Tough call. The numbers will tell.
But it's amazing. One of the first movies in a long time I've wanted to double back to and see again.