Big Leap Forward For Burton.

Rating: 8/10 (22 April 2004)

Tim Burton's "Big Fish" is a dramatic film set in reality with tall tales interspersed throughout the narrative. Director Burton's created a handsome, storybook fantasy that's delightfully pure of heart, thoroughly entertaining and gently humourous. This is perfect subject matter for him and recalls some of his previous movies, especially "Edward Scissorhands".
Billy Crudup's estranged from his father, Albert Finney. They haven't communicated in years, living on separate continents. When Finney falls ill, his son returns home to hopefully patch up their relationship with his main agenda being to find out the truth about his father's fantastical, earlier life. Crudup feels lied to and embarrassed by his father from childhood into adulthood. Spending time with him, searching through his personals, he begins to see his father for the man he is and learns to accept his exaggerated anecdotes.
Ewan McGregor plays the young Finney in the flashback sequences. He's completely believable as Finney's younger self and is optimistic, charming and larger than life, much like his adventures. The bed ridden Finney is also up to par and adds a welcome dose of prestige to the film due to his prescience. His loving wife is adeptly played by the glamourous Jessica Lange and her younger self by the talented Alison Lohman. If you thought McGregor and Finney were perfect casting, Lange and Lohman as the same character is inspired. Crudup has the more serious role rooted more in realism than the other characters. While "Big Fish" is primarily about Finney and his overtly embellished stories, it is Crudup's film, his search for the truth of a man he hardly knows, his own father. Crudup's realism is the grounding force, the one character we identify with. Duel player Helena Bonham Carter, the hard working Steve Buscemi and Burton regular Danny De Vito are swell in support.
Screenwriter John August, who wrote the original comedy Doug Liman's "Go", has been wasting his time of late writing or doctoring the Charlie's Angels movies. It's good to see that his sense of humour is still in check and that his talent of writing intelligent, non-linear screenplays is as sharp as ever.
This has elements of the kind of film that Burton does well. It certainly is an improvement over his last movie, the remake or retelling of "Planet Of The Apes". While the fantasy sequences are expertly handled, this is the first film Burton's done that's been established firmly in reality. He did direct the Edward D. Wood Jr. biopic "Ed Wood", but that film was stylised, shot in black and white with an over the top, caricature portrayal by Johnny Depp. This is Burton's most down-to-earth film and shows that he's capable of making intimate dramas other than the sci-fi/fantasy genre that's become his trademark.
Overall, this is a tried and true Burton fantasy mixed with a parental drama he hasn't tried before. All the performances are right proving that Burton isn't just interested in the weird and the surreal. This is a giant step forward for the director and is a defining moment in his oeuvre.