Big Fish

Big Fish is a film that I have recently watched directed by Tim Burton about a father, Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor, younger years; Albert Finney, older years) who is dying of cancer. His son Will (Billy Crudup), a journalist, who is trying to learn more about his dad by piecing together the stories he has heard over the years. The son ends up recreating his father's elusive life through the legends and tales inspired by a few facts that he has gathered. The film, which is tells the story through flashbacks, starts when Will visits his father for the last time. Will has not seen his father for a long time because he thought his dad was a liar who did not care much about his family. As he learns more about Edward’s story, Will finally begins to understand who his dad really was.

I enjoyed this movie and the way that Edward seemed to make up his life as he went along. I could see why Will did not like his father, but it was interesting to watch the way Tim Burton built the film around the father and son. This is the type of movie a viewer would either really like or find too disjointed. It is a matter of personal preference, but I would recommend seeing it and making up your own mind about this part fantasy, part realistic film

References:

The Circus (1928), The Wizard of Oz (1939), From Here to Eternity (1953), Wild Strawberries (1957), 8½ (1963), Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Deliverance (1972), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1974), The Shining (1980), The Evil Dead (1981), Ladyhawke (1985), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Batman Returns (1992), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Go (1999), Fight Club (1999), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), "Smallville" (2001), Identity (2003)