A Man, His Son, And The Stories Between Them

Rating: 10/10 (5 March 2017)

In my lifetime, I have come across very few movies ("It's A Wonderful Life", "The Champ") that will make grown men care enough about the stories/characters to weep. "Big Fish" is one of those select films.
For a basic plot summary, this movie tells the story of a dying old man (Albert Finney) and his son (Billy Crudup). For his entire life, the son has been overshadowed by the tall tales of his father, and is resentful of that fact. In the final days of the old man's life, however, his stories featuring the younger version of himself (Ewan McGregor) prove to indeed be the most important link between father and son.
Since this is a Tim Burton-directed movie, trying to explain it in words is like trying to describe a work of art hanging in a museum. You know it is great, but you just can't quite put a solid explanation pulling together all the reasons why. Suffice it to say, however, it is one of the rare Burton efforts that is rife with his flare for the cinematography craziness but yet manages to not get lost in the imagery and still make sense in the end.
"Big Fish" is also one of the most emotional movies one could ever watch. It will particular touch fathers and sons (as that is the backbone of the story), but there is something for everyone to enjoy. Actors such as Danny DeVito, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Marion Cotillard, and Steve Buscemi play key roles that enhance the emotion all that much more.
Overall, "Big Fish" is a movie that must be seen in order to fully be understood. Look at all the five-star reviews here on Amazon and know that it isn't because of a "fad" or a bunch of fanboys. This is just a solid movie featuring top-notch storytelling, emotion, characters, cinematography, and even humor.