Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ewan McGregor | ... | Ed Bloom - Young | |
Albert Finney | ... | Ed Bloom - Senior | |
Billy Crudup | ... | Will Bloom | |
Jessica Lange | ... | Sandra Bloom - Senior | |
Helena Bonham Carter | ... | Jenny - Young / Jenny - Senior / The Witch | |
Alison Lohman | ... | Sandra Bloom - Young | |
Robert Guillaume | ... | Dr. Bennett - Senior | |
Marion Cotillard | ... | Josephine Bloom | |
Matthew McGrory | ... | Karl the Giant | |
David Denman | ... | Don Price - Age 18-22 | |
Missi Pyle | ... | Mildred | |
Loudon Wainwright III | ... | Beamen (as Loudon Wainwright) | |
Ada Tai | ... | Ping | |
Arlene Tai | ... | Jing | |
Steve Buscemi | ... | Norther Winslow |
United Press International journalist Will Bloom and his French freelance photojournalist wife Josephine Bloom, who is pregnant with their first child, leave their Paris base to return to Will's hometown of Ashton, Alabama on the news that his father, Edward Bloom, stricken with cancer, will soon die, he being taken off chemotherapy treatment. Although connected indirectly through Will's mother/Edward's wife, Sandra Bloom, Will has been estranged from his father for three years since his and Josephine's wedding. Will's issue with his father is the fanciful tales Edward has told of his life all his life, not only to Will but the whole world. As a child when Edward was largely absent as a traveling salesman, Will believed those stories, but now realizes that he does not know his father, who, as he continues to tell these stories, he will never get to know unless Edward comes clean with the truth before he dies. On the brink of his own family life beginning, Will does not want to be the ... Written by Huggo
Big Fish is nowhere near a perfect movie. Sometimes the dialogue is awkward, the pacing drags at times, and Steve Buscemi is, as always, a weirdo. There are bizarre and fantastical ideas that can take you out of the movie. For all its flaws, I can't give it more than an 8. That being said, this is my favorite movie of all time.
Big Fish strikes a chord with me. It examines the value of a life, our modern-day myths, and, ultimately, the nature of our humanity. I don't cry easily, and I'm not just saying that - I didn't cry at Schindler's List, or Titanic; but Big Fish makes me sob every time. The ultimate catharsis, where a man's identity, value, integrity, and family are all validated, and his life has been a life worth living.
Tim Burton was definitely the man for the job on this film, and if you like his other classics like Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, and Batman, you'll probably enjoy this one, too. What else can I say, this is my favorite movie.