One Of Burton's Best

Rating: 8/10 (21 April 2004)

Along with Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood, this is Tim Burton's best film. Big Fish is a whimsical story about one Edward Bloom (Albert Finney, as the elder Bloom & Ewan McGregor as the younger Bloom), who goes through life experiencing fantastic adventures and spinning yarns taller than an Iowa cornfield. His son Will Bloom, Billy Crudup, has grown tired of his blow-hard, social bore of a father, but he returns to see him after several years at his mother's request (Jessica Lange as the elder Sandra & Alison Lohman as the younger Sandra). Edward Bloom proceeds to spin his yarns once again during this visit, but with revelations Will has yet to grasp. Burton cuts loose with several colorful, extraordinary set pieces, many reminiscent of scenes in his previous movies: Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and Sleepy Hollow. The casting is extraordinary with McGregor and Lohman perfect replicas of Finney and Lange. Helena Bonham Carter is effective as Jenny and the witch as well. The music by Danny Elfman is as enchanting as ever. Several of the sequences from Bloom's life seem to add up to very little until we reach the end, but even then, the film does not reveal the profoundest of truths as it would have us believe. The film is more episodic and less uneven than several other Burton films. There are several good supporting actors in the film, including Danny DeVito, Steve Buscemi, and Matthew McGrory as Karl the Giant. However, Robert Guillaume as an obstetrician or gynecologist stretches credibility in the deep south for the time period. Film buffs will delight in the many in-joke film references sprinkled throughout. More than anything, the film is about being alive, staying positive, and accepting life just as it comes. *** of 4 stars.