Big Fish film reviewed!

 

Big Fish Reviewed!

I've had high hopes for this movie since I found out it was A Tim Burton Movie. After all, most of the Tim Burton movies I've seen have been really wonderful. To say the least, Big Fish did not disappoint me.

The story by no means complex or suspenseful it was simple enough to allow the viewer to really take in the fantasy and mythology in Edward Bloom's tales. It didn't need a surprise ending or secret identities to make this film enjoyable. Rather, it was the simplicity and universal nature of the story that made it interesting.

While some people have mentioned that the film can seem choppy at times, I didn't see this at all. The transition seemed smooth and logical, and while sometimes I found myself wishing for more scenes of younger Edward Bloom, I never felt bored by any of the movie. Nothing seemed to 'drag'.

I was also quite impressed with the quality of acting in nearly the entire cast. Billy Crudup didn't really hit his stride until the end, but he was tolerable through the first three-quarters of the movie. Albert Finney did a great job of portraying a lion on his last legs, bigger than his body but unable to show it. Jessica Lange was amazing and added the emotional oomph that Billy Crudup often failed to provide. And while Ewan McGregor's role was not particularly difficult, at no point did he overplay the character, and his accent (to my ear anyway) never slipped.

Big Fish definitely had the Tim Burton touch in its scenery. The colours were great and the weather was dull for Elder Bloom's time or bright for Younger Bloom . It matched the mood perfectly, and everywhere you looked (especially in Bloom the Younger's timeframe) there was something else to marvel at. Tim Burton fans will not be disappointed.