BIG FISH
dir: Tim Burton
"A man tells his stories so many times that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal. " - Will Bloom
Brief Synopsis
Edward Bloom was a great storyteller, but as he lays on his death bed, his son Will tries to learn more about his life by investigating and listening to the grand stories his father told about himself.
Why It's Here
This is a movie that screams Terry Gilliam, but shockingly enough, it's directed by typically as off-beat, but more gothic Tim Burton. Burton abandons his dark fantasies for a more light-hearted tale about a man's life.
The characters are all equally unique and vibrant, from an old witch to a giant who swings through town tossing cars left and right. There are Nazi's and carnival folk and an unhealthy obsession with a girl in town. The people his father meets are all colourful in their own ways keeping the film feeling fresh and new at each new scene.
The film's performances are what solidify the film, the make-up and costumes are all brilliant to create a feel for the world that Burton has created, but it's the actors who bring these sketches to life. A story about believing and celebration of life itself is a story you simply have to like.
The characters are all equally unique and vibrant, from an old witch to a giant who swings through town tossing cars left and right. There are Nazi's and carnival folk and an unhealthy obsession with a girl in town. The people his father meets are all colourful in their own ways keeping the film feeling fresh and new at each new scene.
The film's performances are what solidify the film, the make-up and costumes are all brilliant to create a feel for the world that Burton has created, but it's the actors who bring these sketches to life. A story about believing and celebration of life itself is a story you simply have to like.
Lesson Learned
Whether or not Edward made his stories larger than life doesn't change the fact that it is how he wants to remember and be remembered, there is always an ounce of truth in an elder's tall tales. Don't be a skeptic.