British Actress Blog

Big Fish (2003)

Score: 7/10

Director: Tim Burton

Stars: Helena Bonham Carter, Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup.

The Honorable Mention Series:

Synopsis: A frustrated son tries to determine fact from fiction in his dying fathers life stories.

Review: Will Bloom’s ( Billy Crudup ) father is dying. Will is not satisfied with his father’s stories of his life because the stories are rooted in fiction. He asks his father Ed Bloom ( Albert Finney ) to tell him the truth but gets more stories instead. This sets Will out on a journey to find the truth and reconnect with his father.

This was kind of a dull role for Helena Bonham Carter to play in. She does well but she is far more capable than what we got here. Her performances in Fight Club (1999), Les Misérables (2012), and the Harry Potter series was much more worthy of her talents. Ewan McGregor did well. You cant but help be reminded of Obi Wan Kenobi from Star Wars. There is a circus scene in this film that reminded be of the movie Oz The Great and Powerful (2013) with Rachel Weizs and James Franco. Its something about the spectacle of the circus that seems a little other worldly. The vibe fits perfectly into this film. Billy Crudup’s character is one I really do not like at all. I will stop at ‘snowflake’ and say no more.

The film focuses on the concept of story telling and how telling a story is a way of communicating. Also a son trying to connect with his father and being ungrateful. The act of telling stories by word of mouth is as old as humans on this planet. Most directors will tell you that story telling in movies is a language all to its self. For Ed Bloom, it was his way of communicating with those around him. Shaping the world as he saw fit. He appreciated the lives of those he loved so much that he dedicated time and energy to enriching their stories. That or he really needed to see a psychiatrist. Interestingly enough most religions and conspiracy theories have been created this same way.

The cinematography is well done. The lighting, set dressing, wardrobe, and backgrounds are well done. The movie has a whimsical feel to it that keeps the movie interesting. The film was actually fun to watch. Ewan McGregor definitely held up the movie with his acting talent. The film has a way of carrying you away with its magical world. There was no telling what was going to happen next and the plot was always moving forward and not stagnating. The movie is better than average. Watch it if your bored.

More Films from Helena Bonham Carter:

The Theory of Flight (1998)

Les Misérables (2012)

Cinderella (2015)

The King’s Speech (2010)

Suffragette (2015)

Fight Club (1999)

The Young and Prodigious T.S. Spivet (2013)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

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