Big Fish (2003)

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers (WGA):

Daniel Wallace (novel)
John August (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 January 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Comedy | Adventure

Tagline:

An adventure as big as life itself.

Plot:

A story about a son trying to learn more about his dying father by reliving stories and myths his father told him about himself.

Plot Keywords:

Animal In Title | Snake | Loss Of Husband | Swimming Pool | Wedding Reception

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 32 nominations

Cast

Ewan McGregor	...	Ed Bloom - Younger
Albert Finney	...	Ed Bloom - Older
Billy Crudup	...	Will Bloom
Jessica Lange	...	Sandra Bloom - Older
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Jenny - Younger & Older / The Witch
Alison Lohman	...	Sandra Bloom - Younger
Robert Guillaume	...	Dr. Bennett - Older
Marion Cotillard	...	Josephine
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

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for a fight scene, some images of nudity and a suggestive reference.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Malaysia:U | Philippines:PG-13 | Germany:6 (f) | Netherlands:MG6 | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Quebec) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Norway:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Alabama, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When Young Edward first visits Spectre, the camera pans upwards and we see shoes hanging from a wire above the city. On the left-hand side hangs a pair of ruby slippers, a reference to The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Edward surprises the enemy soldiers and the enemies are preparing for the fight and are finished showing off their fancy moves, they are standing back to back (from Edward's point of view). In the view from behind the enemies and looking at Edward, they are about 2 feet apart, then they are back to back again in the next shot.

Quotes:

Young Ed Bloom: There comes a point when any reasonable man will swallow his pride and admit he made a mistake. The truth is... I was never a reasonable man.

Movie Connections:

References Fight Club (1999)

Soundtrack:

Man of the Hour

A Wonderful Fable About A Dreamer Who Sees the World With Beautiful Eyes

Will Bloom (Billy Crudup) is informed by his mother Sandra Bloom (Jessica Lange) that his father Ed Bloom (Albert Finney) is terminal, and he travels with his French pregnant wife Josephine (Marion Cotillard) to his parents' home. Will and Ed have broken relationship three years before, because of the imaginative and fantasized stories told by Ed Bloom about his accomplishments in his youth. Will tries to find the true story of the mysterious life of his father, coming to a surprising discovery in the end.

I am a great fan of Tim Burton, and I really believe that "Big Fish", together with "Ed Wood", are his best works. Beginning with a wonderful and very optimistic fairytale in a magic screenplay, about a very supportive storyteller and dreamer, who sees the world with beautiful eyes. The selection of the cast is another point to be highlighted: the resemblance between the outstanding actress Alison Lohman, from "White Oleander" and "Matchstick Men", and the still very gorgeous and also excellent actress Jessica Lange, is amazing. Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney are also a great choice for the role of Ed Bloom. Although having a convincing performance, Billy Crudup is in a lower level of performance, when comparing with the rest of the cast, which has names such as Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi and Danny DeVito. "Big Fish" is the type of movie good to be seen many times. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "Peixe Grande e Suas Histórias Maravilhosas" ("Big Fish Abd His Wonderful Stories")