Can Tim Burton make a "normal" movie? Yes, and it's wonderful!
Written: Nov 11 '03 (Updated Feb 02 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great cast, Tim Burton visual flair, emotional impact.
Cons: Flat acting at times (very seldom, though).
The Bottom Line: Tim Burton goes "normal," and it's wonderful. This is a great date film, a great family film, and just a great all around production. Few flaws, lots of heart.
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| slarter's Full Review: Big Fish |
Maybe the beaucoup bucks I shelled out for a V.I.P. pass to the Philadelphia Film Festival were worth it. One of the upshots to such a gross expenditure is the presence of my name on the Philadelphia Film Society's e-mail list. This means that I get invitations every other week to some sort of advance screening, or a meet-the-director event, or some such thing. Big Fish, though, is the first such event I have attended. In truth, how could I pass up an opportunity to be one of the first people in America to see the new Tim Burton film?
At the Q&A session after the film, the producer, Bruce Cohen, told us that, as preview screeners, we were to be word-of-mouth advertisers. As such, I saw an immediate opportunity for me to rush back to my computer and bang out an Epinion. Consider my duty as an advertiser done.
Characters & Plot
Edward Bloom (Albert Finney) is a storyteller. The story of his life begins in small-town Alabama, but moves through so many strange and wonderful places that it scarcely seems real. For Eddie's son Will (Billy Crudup), his father's stories are what has kept them from developing an adult relationship, and they have not spoken in three years. This all changes when his mother, Sandra (Jessica Lange) calls with news that his father is ill, and probably dying. What follows is an emotional journey, as Eddie finds a willing audience for his tales in Will's pregnant wife (Alison Lohman), and Will struggles to come to terms with who his father really is, as opposed to the man his stories portray.
Other actors making appearances in this film, often in some very interesting ways, include some great character actors. Helena Bonham Carter portrays a small-town woman intimately wrapped up in Eddie's life. Danny Devito makes a comical appearance as a lycanthropic circus master, while Steve Buscemi portrays a failed poet-cum-failed bank robber-cum-Wall Street power broker. In all, a very distinguished, fascinating cast of characters graces the screen, resulting in a film that never fails to surprise.
What's Great?
Anyone who enjoys Tim Burton's unique brand of film-making should find a lot to love in this movie. It is not as off-the-wall as many of his other outings (Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow), but deftly weaves together the fantastical and the mundane without over-emphasizing either. One member of the audience expressed disappointment that Burton took a step in a more "conventional" direction with this film, but a comparison of his previous works with this one fails to take Big Fish on its own merits. This film, as with all films, should be appreciated for what it is, and not unfairly compared to other works in Burton's oeuvre.
When I heard that John August was the screenwriter for this film, I couldn't contain a shudder. This guy, for those who don't know, was responsible for both Charlie's Angels movies (see my review on Full Throttle for my thoughts on his last writing endeavor). Understandably nervous, I consoled myself with the thought that the screenplay was based on a novel by Daniel Wallace (who incidentally played a small role in the film, to his great excitement), so it couldn't be too terribly bad. Thankfully, August delivered an entertaining and touching script, which balanced reality and fantasy quite effectively, and hardly ever descended into typical Hollywood triteness. In my eyes, at least, he has redeemed himself from the train wreck that was Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.
The cast, as you may recognize from the preceding discussion, is superb. Though there are flat moments (to be noted shortly), as a whole the ensemble delivers a delightfully nuanced series of performances. Though I was skeptical of Ewan McGregor's ability to pull of an Alabama accent as the young Eddie Bloom, I never found myself distracted by any residual Scottish-ness. Albert Finney as the older Eddie was nothing short of brilliant. He so fully inhabited his role as the storyteller that we truly saw how impossible it was to separate the man from his stories. Jessica Lange, who is still absolutely stunning by any definition, has a lesser role as Eddie's wife, but manages to pull off the simultaneous roles of loving wife, mother, and peacemaker with grace and elegance. Another standout, as always, is Helena Bonham Carter, who is capable of such subtleties of expression that she breathes life into a character that could have easily descended into caricature. In the main, the performances in this film drew me in and made me care for the characters. Even in the more fantastical portions, there was a consistency to the characterizations that provided an emotional and personal continuity.
The sets, costumes, and cinematography are also very effective. An extremely experienced, talented crew worked with Tim Burton to craft this film, including an Oscar-winning director of photography, an Oscar-winning costume designer, and quite a few other Oscar winners or nominees. Some simple but effective camera work takes place in a couple of profile shots, which allow the actors' expressions and words to carry the communication, and allow a tension to develop without an over-reliance on visual trickery.
What's not so Great?
There is very little that is wrong with this film, to my mind. In all fairness, though, I should mention the few nagging issues that stuck with me as I rode home. Though the overall cast effort is praiseworthy, there are a few flat moments. Billy Crudup does a fair job of portraying Will Bloom as a man who has distanced himself from his father. What is less than satisfying, however, is the lack of emotion in this character for most of the film. I'm not sure why I found this to be the case, given that Crudup is a very capable actor, and Burton a more-than capable director. Why did they decide to present Will in such a passionless manner? It just seems to me that a bit more inner conflict would be apropos for a man whose relationship with his father is rather strained.
Another small acting note concerns the character of the giant (yes, giant). Granted, I'm sure there aren't that many giants with advanced acting degrees out there, so a bit of flatness on the part of this actor can probably be forgiven. This is only a small quibble, however. I suppose you take your 7'-6" actors wherever you can find them.
My final small criticism concerns the final voice-over narration. It felt as though the last phrase could have been omitted, making a more concise, powerful ending. I won't divulge the phrase itself, but for me, it tacked a tiny bit of Hollywood onto the film's end. This is such a small issue, though, that I wouldn't even mention it were it not for the fact that it occurred right at the end of the movie, and as such will tend to stick with the viewer.
One last thing (no, this is really the last!). If I never again hear Eddie Vedder's quavery, whiny voice trying to inject emotion into obscure lyrics it will be too soon. Yes, Pearl Jam provided a song for the ending credits, and no, I do not like much that Pearl Jam has done since Ten. That's all.
Final Thoughts
There is so much to love in this film that I cannot describe without giving away too many of the plot details. I wish I could better communicate how many times I found myself having to swallow a lump in my throat, and how beautiful the full circle of the story is. It is not a perfect film, but it is far superior to the standard Hollywood offerings, and reflects brilliantly the love and effort poured into it by cast and crew alike. The power of story and myth in family and memory is a worthy subject for the Christmas season. Take a look at Big Fish. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
© SL, 2003
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
slarter
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Reviews written: 131
Trusted by: 125 members
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