Review of Big Fish (2003) by Joe P — 11 Jun 2012
A deeply heartfelt father-son film, it also has a convincing and fantastic romantic element. Burton strikes a similar balance between strange and endearing that made some of his earlier works like Ed Wood and Edward Scissorhands so good.
There are some aspects about this film that will either work for the viewer or they won't, like the more fantastic elements of the Ewan McGregor flashbacks or some of Billy Crudup's line readings that sound like a Mastercard commercial, but they work for me.
Even when the film ventures into emotional manipulation at the climax it works, because it feels earned. Though released between the two ill-conceived misfires of Planet of the Apes and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish is among Tim Burton's finest work, and one of my favorite films.
This review of Big Fish (2003) was written by Joe P on 11 Jun 2012.
Big Fish has generally received very positive reviews.
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