Big Fish
Tim Burton directs the fantasy drama Big Fish, based on the book Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Southern writer/illustrator Daniel Wallace. Billy Crudup plays William Bloom, a young man who never really knew his dying father, Edward (Albert Finney) outside of the tall tales he told about growing up, making his way, and meeting his mother (played as a young woman by Alison Lohman and in older age by Jessica Lange). During Edward's last days, William and his wife Josephine (Marion Cotillard) hold bedside vigil as the old man recollects elaborate memories of his youth (in which he is played by Ewan McGregor). Still doubting the the legends and folklore, William makes a journey to meet a mysterious woman (Helena Bonham Carter) from whom Edward had bought property. Steve Buscemi and Danny De Vito also star.
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Ewan McGregor,Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman
Director Tim Burton finally hooks the one that got away: a script that challenges and deepens his visionary talent.
Has enough tasty bait to satisfy an array of moviegoers: Burton fans, Albert Finney fans, fans of tall tales well spun by experts and fans of movies that don't look like any other.
The movie is a gently overstuffed cinematic piñata, crammed with tall tales -- with giants and circuses and fairy-tale woods, plus a huge squirmy catfish, all served up with a literal matter-of-fact fancy that is very pleasing.
There's delight to be had from watching Burton conjure up one fantastical Edward-inspired scenario after another.
Big Fish of course is a great-looking film, with a fantastical visual style that could be called Felliniesque if Burton had not by now earned the right to the adjective Burtonesque.
Best Music, Original Score
Academy Awards (2004)
Best Actor
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (2004)
Best Foreign Film, Not in the Spanish Language (Mejor Película Extranjera en Idioma no Español)
Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards (2005)
Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects
BAFTA Awards (2004)
Best Composer
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (2004)
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