Moving film, should not be missed.

Rating: 9/10 (28 April 2004)

"Most men, they'll tell you a story straight true. It won't be complicated, but it won't be interesting either."
Big Fish is a film all about such stories not the straight true ones but rather the interesting ones. Stories as they were told by Edward Bloom to his son William, since the day Will was born. The stories are tall tales of adventure that several fathers tell their children (as the movie opens) either around campfires, as bedtime stories, or as anecdotes at family gatherings. Edward's stories are filled with fantasy, danger, excitement, humour, and even romance.
These stories, to Will's dismay, never stopped. Edward told them well into Will's adult life, and often to Will's embarrassment, and ultimately forced the two to stop speaking with one another.
Now, due to Ed's failing health, Will returns home but is persistent on knowing the truth about his father. He insists that his father put aside his tall tales and come to grips with what really happened in his life. Will wants so much to know who his father really is before he dies, that he won't even allow his father his final days as he would prefer.
The story switches back and forth, from real/present time, and back into Ed's stories. Even through the fantasy and exaggerations, we learn more about Ed Bloom through his stories than we do from anything else perhaps because this is all he has left.
Tim Burton has put together an amazing tale in Big Fish and has displayed it in an amazing way. We get to see first hand (so to speak) Edward's stories in all their exaggerated fantasy as only Edward Bloom could have told them.
At the same time, we get a very REAL story about a son and father who have drifted apart. They were "strangers who knew each other well" as Will puts it, and brought back together because of his father's illness. It's not that Will doesn't love his father, but he so much wants to connect with him that he gets frustrated when all Ed wants is to live in his stories.
As Ed's stories are brought to life on screen, they are perfectly crafted and shot vibrantly (when vibrancy is of essence). Of course, these images are extraordinarily bright and at times exaggerated, but justly so, as we expect that this is the way the stories were told. Tim Burton is well known for his unique imagery, and Big Fish takes full advantage of Burton's visionary and imaginative talents.
The characters that are included in Ed's stories, including the younger Ed Bloom himself (played by Ewan McGregor) are also a bit exaggerated, but they need to be for the purpose of the stories. The characters in real/present time are truly believable in their feelings toward with the bed ridden Edward Bloom (played by Albert Finney). His wife, Sandra (Jessica Lange) loves him dearly his son William (Billy Crudup) although frustrated loves his father and Will's wife, Josephine (Marion Cotillard) who doesn't know Ed, seems to enjoy his charm. All have their individual and distinct relationship with Ed, throughout the picture.
Big Fish is an exceptionally moving film. It's charming and fantastic enough to share with your children, warm and romantic enough for couples of all ages, and touching and moving enough to knock down even the strongest of viewers.
Although the film was out last year, I didn't catch Big Fish until its recent release on DVD. As such, it is the best film I have seen so far this year. Big Fish is available for rent or purchase on DVD. It holds my high recommendation and should not be missed.
I'm granting it an IMDB rating... 8.5 out of 10