You Should Watch: Big Fish (Movies)

        Tim Burton is a bit eccentric, well maybe very eccentric but that is what makes him so endearing. Whether it’s Beetlejuice or his iteration of Batman in 1989 it seems that the award winning director prides himself and his films on being well, distinguishable. Burton has had his fair share of successes and flops. When it comes to the flops however they are often one sided in the sense that if the critics don’t like it usually the audience does and vice versa however if neither like it you can count on his devoted group of fans to find the silver lining. This is what makes his 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes rather disappointing, aside from an interesting twist Burton’s rendition to put it kindly falls flat on its face and seemed to not land with any audience. Burton's career has not really been the same since so what comes next in Burton’s filmography after this misstep is potentially his most underrated and odd film of all.

        Big Fish is a 2003 film directed by Tim Burton based on the novel of the same name. The film follows Edward Bloom both young and old, played respectively by Ewan McGregor (young) and Albert Finney (old). The film however centers around Bloom's adult son Will played by Billy Crudup, about to have a son of his own. Will comes home as his estranged father finds himself on his final days of life. Will desperately wants his father to tell him the truth about his life instead of the countless fish tales he was told as a kid which his father continues to perpetuate. Much of this story is told through his fathers tale tales much to the frustration of his adult son Will. Throughout the film from others Will begins to learn who his father really was and whether it matters if the tales were exaggerated or not. 

        This film is important as a part of Burton’s filmography because like his other films it shares that key trait of being distinguishable. Past that however it lacks some of the classic Burton feel and even stars actors that are not regulars in his films. So in this way it feels like the black sheep of his filmography. Big Fish at its core is a universal story of a son coming to an understanding of who his father truly is to the world and most importantly himself. This movie is packed with your typical Burton oddities but it also possesses some of the best emotional moments that any of his films have produced thanks in large part to Crudup who carries much of the emotional weight of the story. Why you as the reader should watch this however is not because of Burton's history but because it’s a rare film that tells a deeply personal story one many of us have a variation of in our own life. Importantly though Big Fish understands it can still have fun and be weird and it helps because McGregor is really…really selling it. So go see Big Fish if you wanna be confused, if you wanna laugh, or maybe you wanna get let a little emotional about your relationship with your parents.

        This week's selection could not be found on any prominent streaming services but can be rented or bought. This week's recommendation and write up was made by Kaleb Unger in anticipation for Burton’s next film coming out soon Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Kaleb Unger