Hey folks, Harry here... I was supposed to go see BIG FISH today, but Capone came to town and when I told him I couldn't hang out tonight cuz I had a press screening of BIG FISH he said... and I quote, "You see this BIG FISH & I want you dead! I want your family dead! I want your house burned to the ground! I want to go there in the middle of the night and piss on your ashes! Capice?" So, I told Quint to go... sniffle...
Ahoy, squirts. The unbelievably crusty seaman here with a quick look at a great film, one of the best of the year. I would love for nothing more than to spend thousands of words detailing my love for Tim Burton's new flick, but I must be awake and out the door in 10 hours time to help Harry and Co. pack the BNAT goodie bags, which promises to be a full days work. Then tomorrow night must be spent capturing every last minute, second, mili-second of sleep I can before the long haul of Butt-Numb-A-Thon.
In short, I love it. Love it, love it, love it. Burton is back in prime form with this film. Strangely enough as the film was beginning I kept thinking to myself, "This doesn't feel like a Tim Burton movie... this looks like a regular film..." Then, about 5 minutes into the film, our main character, Edward Bloom, and his young friends go to the local haunted house. There, the young man confronts a witch whose glass eye reflects the last moments in the lives of whoever looks into it. It was here where I noticed that classic Burton look seep in around the corners. It's also where Danny Elfman's music kicks up in trademark Tim Burton mode.
The film is all about this Edward Bloom. Albert Finney brilliantly plays him as an old man and Ewan McGregor once again proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that he's one of, if not THE, best leading men in Hollywood right now in playing Edward Bloom from late teens to middle age.
This Bloom is a real character. From the age of 10 to the twilight of his life, Bloom tells the tallest tales anyone has ever heard. From catching the biggest catfish known to mankind with his wedding ring to sweet-talking Siamese twins to befriending a giant to wrestling with a werewolf... He has a million fantastical stories to tell and is determined to tell them each a million times.
This is fantasy on the most real level. The way the truth is stretched (or is it?) is beautiful to watch. McGregor turns up the charm to 11 and just oozes charisma throughout. Matter of fact, every single performance is top notch. The only person I can think of that I didn't totally get into in the film was Helena Bonham Carter's character, but that's because she has very little screen time and plays an integral role in the third act of the film.
Ultimately this film is a take on that great line from THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE. "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Finney and McGregor spin such wonderful tales that you just can't help but want them to be the real story. I found myself starting to dislike Bloom's son (played terrifically by Billy Crudup) because he refuses to believe any of it and tries to take away the magic, the imagination.
This film has it all. Adventure, humor, emotion, love, class, Steve Buscemi... What more could you ask for? I can guarantee you that BIG FISH will rank high in my Top 10 films of the year list, it's that good. Rejoice! Rejoice! Burton has come back to us! He's back with a bang. I'd say the only other film of his that packs a better emotional punch is EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. Look forward to this film and run out to see it the first chance you get.
That's it from me, squirts. Time to catch and store away as many Zs as I can get my hands on. I'll be back after BNAT with some goodies. 'Til that day, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
