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Back Shelf Beauties
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Big Fish Every year, I wait for one film to blow me away, a movie that grabs my heart, excites my senses and takes me to places I never imagined. Sometimes, it's a surprise like Chicago, or one I have been waiting for like Road to Perdition. It's this journey that makes me forget Gigli and Into The Cut and drives me to go to the movies night after night. This Christmas, check out my pick for best movie of the year, Big Fish. Billy Crudup stars as William Bloom - a young man who has a rocky relationship with his bigger than life father, Edward Bloom (Albert Finney). The two have grown apart, but William wants to take one last chance to get to know his father when it's discovered that Edward is dying. Driven away by his father's supposed bombast and stretching of the truth in wild, adventurous stories about his youth, William wants to get to know the real personality behind the tall tales before it's too late. Can William and Edward finally put the past behind them? Which of Edward's stories are real? Big Fish is an amazing film full of adventure, imagery, tenderness and good times. It's like a dream come to life. Director Tim Burton shows an amazing ability to touch our hearts in a way that he hasn't tried since Edward Scissorhands. It's a remarkable show of maturity and growth for director who seems to come from another world. Burton has always been known for bizarre, fantasy movies like Batman and Beetlejuice, but this one combines those elements and styles with humanity and some comedy. Along with writer John August (based on the novel by Daniel Wallace), he even throws in a touching love story that is inspiring. Before you start to think that Big Fish is a weep fest, put away those tissues. Even with all of the emotion, Burton brings amazing visual style to the film. Since Edward's tales are larger than life and taken from his imaginative memory, everything in the movie is exaggerated to almost comic book extremes. The tallest guy in town is reaches to the sky, the grass is greener than the best photograph, etc. It's a technical achievement that thrills your visual senses in the same way the story excites your emotions. With a great story and amazing visuals in place, the cast rounds out this film with strong performances from the vets. Finney is great as the dying man who still has some spunk. Lange is equally wonderful as his ever-loving wife who is trying to bring the family together. However, Ewan McGregor is the one who stood out for me. While Finney gets the showy role and the best scene in the film, McGregor is the one who makes the movie come to life. We are seeing everything through his eyes as he portrays the young Edward and plays out of the amazing stories. He fills the character with wonder and charm in a way that everything seems possible no matter how wild it may appear. McGregor even gives us a decent smooth, southern accent for a Scot. If you see one movie this holiday, make it Big Fish. This is a great movie for anyone with teens and older kids. 5 Waffles (Out of 4) WaffleMovies.com Movie of the Year - 2003 Copyright 2003 - WaffleMovies.com
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