Corporate Line: Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) has always been a teller of tall-tales about his oversized life as a young man (Ewan McGregor), when his wanderlust led him on an unlikely journey from a small-town in Alabama, around the world, and back again. His mythic exploits dart from the delightful to the delirious as he weaves epic tales about giants, a witch and conjoined-twin lounge singers. With his larger-than-life stories, Bloom charms almost everyone he encounters except for his estranged son Will (Billy Crudup). When his mother Sandra (Jessica Lange) tries to reunite them, Will must learn how to separate fact from fiction as he comes to terms with his father’s great feats and great failings.
The Good: Fables come in all shapes and sizes. Tim Burton has taken them on year after year and consistently hits them out of the park and now he’s done it again. What separates this film from many of Burton’s usual films is that the characters outshine the background noise. Burton always sprinkles his stories with the heart and soul no matter how dark the film – Big Fish is no different. It has a tenderness wrapped up in a completely different package.
Big Fish is white to Burton’s usual black. Ewan McGregor as the young Edward Bloom has offered us a deeper shade for which we haven’t seen before. He emerges as the man we wish we knew. In the end it is the tales, tall or short, that shine like a spotlight. Each one captures your heart and imagination. Remember when Forrest Gump stole everybody’s heart by living the life of ten men? Edward Bloom is that character only in some twisted non-reality. Bloom’s experiences are so far out there that you never know what will come next.
Throughout all the fanatical tales and sentiment there is the story of a boy and his father laying atop the entire film. It is the rare film where you know how it is going to end and are glad to wait until it all unfolds just the way you expect it.
The Bad: There is nothing to complain about.
DVD Features: There are a handful of interesting features. Commentary by Tim Burton is nice, but it’s the featurettes that score big; Tim Burton “Storyteller” is a look at the director’s process, “A Fairytale World” finds Tim Burton and cast discuss the importance of myths and fairytales, “Creature Features” steps into the magical world of Stan Winston studios and “The Author’s Journey” takes Daniel Wallace’s story from page to screen. There are fun character featurettes based on Edward Bloom, Amos and Fathers and Sons. Overall a very good bonus to a very odd, yet wonderful film.
Frankly: Big Fish is what Forrest Gump would have been if only Tim Burton had directed it. Life is like a river, you never know what you might catch.
+ Charlie Craine
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