Review of Big Fish (2003) by Rainer K — 27 Aug 2011

Big Fish starts like a great tale of a father-son relationship but never quite lives up to it. Which is in no circumstances a bad thing. Burton rather created something (some kind of film) that feels like an assemblage of bedtime stories with some unexpected twists in the later parts and an ending that's so touching and wonderful like I'd never have expected from the film whilst watching.

Sure, it has its flaws. It's confusing because of all the flashbacks and abrupt changes of time and scenery at the beginning and seems a bit aimless at times (as already mentioned - some loosely connected fantasy short stories).

But after all it's a terrific film, featuring an all star cast including Ewan McGregor who is certainly one of my Top 15 actors, Marion Cotillard one of my favourite actresses, Albert Finney who convincingly plays the dying notorious liar and Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito and the obligatory Helena Bonham Carter in supporting roles. It also has all the fantasy elements and bright lights and colours we're familiar with from other Burton films (although not used so extensively like in most of the Depp collaborations - there are actually some scenes that seem quite "normal").