"Big Fish" is a fantasy par excellence!

Rating: 9/10 (27 August 2004)

"Big Fish" is a delightful fantasy. It is well delivered by the director, Tim Burton. The screenplay by John August is a perfect fit to the silver screen. Albert Finney plays senior Ed Bloom, a story teller who pores his heart into his never ending stories to his son, Will. Billy Crudup, Will Bloom, is perfect in his underplay of the son searching for a portion of communication with his estranged father. He has not spoken to his dad in several years, and he searches for a line of communication through the adventures that he recalls as childhood fairy tales. Robert Guillaume plays the family's doctor taking care of the dying father with a gentle and understanding hand. He gives a very comforting performance. Mathew McGrory plays Karl the Giant, and the camera angles are very convincing in solidifying his character. All moviegoers with a sense of imagination should see this movie. It is a compelling, warmhearted film. It is truly a fantasy, par excellence. Put it on your must see list. A box of Kleenex may not be a bad idea.