Big Fish

"In telling the story of my father's life, it's impossible to separate fact from fiction, the man from the myth. The best I can do is to tell it the way he told me. It doesn't always make sense and most of it never happened... but that's what kind of story this is."

William Bloom (Ewan McGregor) grows up not knowing much about his father (Albert Finney). His mother Sandra (Jessica Lange), summons him to their old house where his father lays ill. On his father's deathbed, William asks his father to reveal his real self to him and not the fancy and tall tales he is wont to tell about his life. The father argues that some people tell stories as they are without complications but they are not as interesting as his stories.

So during the time that Ed Bloom is recounting his great exploits and adventures to his son, we also see a glimpse of man who has experienced defeats and many failings that he has to sugarcoat his tales. We hear for example how the young Ed was considered a man about town in during his college days, his legendary friendship with the town giant, his having discovered a secret community where people do not age, his friendship with a conjoined twin opera singers.

William considers these stories as a way his father used to hide his true identity. But little does he know that behind every lie lies the truth and every bit of a legend exists a reality larger than life.

Director Tim Burton (A Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) soars high in this fantastic tale of a man with great imagination for adventures and even a bigger heart to live them.

There are some fish that cannot be caught.

Director: Tim Burton
From the Novel by: Daniel Wallace
Adapted for the Screen by: John August
Cast: Ewan McGregor (Down with Love, Star Wars IV-VI, Moulin Rouge)
Albert Finney (Breakfast of the Champions, Erin Brokovich)
Jessica Lange (Blue Sky, Tootsie)
Helena Bonham Carter (Margaret's Museum, Fight Club)