Yes, that’s right…not even the movies from Loba’s directorial gods are safe from this culling. And so it is that a Tim Burton movie has made its way to my chopping block. This is 2003’s Big Fish, starring Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi, Marion Cotillard, Danny DeVito, Robert Guillaume, and Billy Crudup.
I saw this film at the theater, but it coincided with some personal matters that obfuscated the memory of the movie itself and left it intrinsically linked with said “bad patch.” So, even though I instinctively purchased the movie when it was released on DVD, as any right and proper Burtonian disciple is apt to do (with the exception of the shit bog known as Planet of the Apes, ownership of which is illegal in 47 of the 50 states), I never watched it. Each time I looked at the case, all that came to mind was the unhappiness that surrounded the original viewing. So it’s just been sitting on my shelf, for almost 6 years, completely untouched by anything more than dust bunnies and the occasional vacuum attachment.
Until now.
Based on a novel by Daniel Wallace, this is a two-tiered tale in which a son struggles to come to terms with the imminent death of a father he’s never really understood, while trying to sift out the truth of his father’s elusive life from the myriad tall tales his father has always spun. It’s a somewhat stock Hollywood story, fleshed out with a bit of Burton-bizarre panache. Really, it’s two movies taking place simultaneously: the father/son piece, dominated by Albert Finney as Edward Bloom and Billy Crudup as his son Will; and the more fantastical flashbacks of the father’s embellished life, dominated by Ewan McGregor as Finney’s younger counterpart. I guess, though, you could view the flashbacks as several different mini-movies, visual vignettes that when pulled together, form the pastiche of Edward Bloom’s life.
Sounds a bit cacophonous, doesn’t it? I suspect in the hands of a less-skilled director, this movie could have found 100 different ways to unravel, crumble, explode, and immolate itself. However, Burton and screenwriter John August somehow hold it all together, keeping it at a smooth, swift pace that resists getting bogged down under the weight of all that it’s trying to accomplish in the space of 125 minutes.
I can understand why this movie wasn’t that big a hit with audiences. Those new to Burton’s world were probably frightened away by the level of sinister whimsy that Burton injects into all his films, while long-time fans of his work might have considered this level to be somewhat shallow in comparison with his earlier classics like Edward Scissorhands or Beetlejuice. There’s also a more pronounced mainstream sentimentality to this Burton film, which I can see would be off-putting to his more diehard fans. However, there’s an even, almost subdued tone to the more emotional aspects of this story, which gives it a surprising sincerity. Needless to say, the end moments, including the final scenes between Will and Edward, left me quite the soppy mess. Stoicism be damned, it was a satisfying conclusion that didn’t seem at all overwrought or cloying even if it was somewhat predictable.
I know that a lot of people have problems with Ewan McGregor, and I do agree that when McGregor isn’t enthusiastic about a role, it all turns to shit in the blink of an eye (see Star Wars prequels). However, I found him to be delightful as the young Edward Bloom. Another stand-out from this cast was Alison Lohman, who absolutely blew me away in last year’s awesomeness known as Drag Me to Hell (another Loba-approved movie!). Albert Finney is delightful as the older Bloom, and you really can’t ask for a more powerful supporting cast than one that includes talents like Buscemi, DeVito, Bonham Carter, Cotillard, and Guillaume.
Also, this is one of the last times you’ll get a chance to see Jessica Lange before she traded in her original face for one of perpetual surprise. It’s a shame, really, because I’ve always thought that Lange was both a beautiful and capable actress. She impressed me here for her willingness to take on a role that some actresses of her caliber might have considered too small or too beneath them…and she brings to it all her light and skill.
The only actor I have problems with in this movie is Billy Crudup. But that’s just because I think IRL he’s a douchewanger. I know that I shouldn’t judge his acting ability through the lens of knowing that he left Mary-Louise Parker for Claire Danes, while Parker was pregnant with their child…but I do. This also really dampens my enthusiasm for Danes as well. Still, Crudup is capable as Will Bloom and pulls off beleaguered without stepping too far into the depths of mawkishness.
DVD Special Features: Burton provides a commentary track, although it’s unlike any commentary I’ve heard thus far. It’s more like an interview being given in sync with a viewing of the movie. I can’t remember the name of the bloke interviewing him, but he did a splendid job of never letting the pace falter or letting the discussion dry up. He knew Burton’s oeuvre well, and he also knew when to shut up and let Burton take the reins, and when to jump back in and give Burton the prodding he needed to continue the commentary’s conversation. It’s an enjoyable mix of technical talk, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and glimpses into some of Burton’s other cinematic endeavors. He speaks most often of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (already a documented Loba favorite) and his 1989 take on Batman, which remains not only one of my favorite superhero movies but also my favorite of the modern-day Batman movies.
Beyond the commentary, there are numerous featurettes, including: The Character’s Journey on “Edward Bloom at Large,” “Amos at the Circus,” and “Fathers and Sons”; The Filmmakers’ Path on “Tim Burton: Storyteller,” “A Fairytale World,” “Creature Features,” and “The Author’s Journey”; and The Finer Points: A Tim Burton Trivia Quiz (which sadly I almost aced in one try). There’s a proper dose of sunshine-pumping throughout all the extras, but there’s also a lot of information about special effects, CGI, casting, story development, et cetera that make each extra worth watching.
Final Verdict: All critical commentary and subjective issues aside, this revisit has shown me that there is much to love about this Burtonesque fairytale. Plus, the special features did wonders in pushing this DVD far into the safety zone. This one has earned its reprieve and delighted me with how much I truly enjoyed this “big fish” tale.
