"After wasting his talent on Planet Of The Apes in 2001, director Tim Burton returns to form with the enchanting "Big Fish", the finest film of his career." Adrian Hennigan BBCi FILMS "Director Tim Burton finally hooks the one that got away: a script that challenges and deepens his visionary talent." Peter Travers ROLLING STONE "Not only is Mr. Burton at the top of his form in endowing his tallest stories and wildest magical conceits with emotional conviction, but he is aided by a superb acting ensemble that never loses its footing in the treacherous swamps of make-believe." Andrew Sarris NEW YORK OBSERVER "It is too early to mark Big Fish as a true masterpiece. That distinction is not something best made quickly, no matter how fine the work. But it is a truly wondrous film of love and renewal. It may take a few looks to see past Tim Burton's big fish tales to see the heart of the film. But it is there. And it beats strong." David Poland HOT BUTTON "An amazing motion picture experience..“Big Fish” is a very special movie..so enriching, so heartwarming, so funny, so touching and so breathtaking" Clint Morris FILM THREAT

What The Critics Say

"All the actors are exceptional, searching their characters for the hurt that needs healing. Lange pierces the heart as Sandra climbs in the tub with Edward to offer comfort and forgiveness." Peter Travers ROLLING STONE "Big Fish really is a film you have to catch. Trust us, you'll be hooked." Adrian Hennigan BBCi FILMS "The rivers and their legendary jumping fish are the recurring metaphors for the fluid grace of this marvelous conjunction of talents in yet another father-and-son epiphany." Andrew Sarris NEW YORK OBSERVER "Tim Burton delivers a movie about a father and a son, about the mirror we each hold to the world and about the only thing that allows true love to live in this world, forgiveness." David Poland HOT BUTTON "In less capable hands, Big Fish could play like a tribute to a liar's pathology. Or, worse, Edward could be a holy fool, like Forrest Gump. He isn't." Peter Travers ROLLING STONE

At A Glance It seems that to some sections of the media, Tim Burton still has a lot to prove. Try telling that to a multitude of fans who have enjoyed such wonderful movies as "Vincent", "Edward Sissorhands", "Ed Wood", "Sleepy Hollow" and "Planet of the Apes". To say that Burton's approach to storytelling on the big screen is unique is a massive understatement for Burton's style is his alone. At the box office this Burton factor just hasn't been able to grab the general public in a big way. And, while many find his films just spellbinding there are many who never quite connect. Like Edward Bloom in "Big Fish" it seems that there is always so much depth in Burton's films that some people, including the critics, find it all a little too incredulous to take in. Will this be the case with his latest offering "Big Fish", the incredible almost unbelievable story of one mans journey through life?
In the case of "Big Fish", one might ask "is truth stranger than fiction"? Novelist Daniel Wallace says he was "inspired to write "Big Fish, A Story of Mythic Proportions" in part by his own charismatic father and the fact that he had recently become a dad himself." And like Edward Bloom, the central character in both the book and the film, his own father was an extremely charismatic man. Daniel explained his father had a favourite saying, "he didn't want to be a 'big fish in a little pond.' So he left Cullman, Alabama, and became an international businessman." He also revealed that there was more meaning to the name "Big Fish" saying, "A fish can be real slippery; like Edward Bloom, you can never really get a hold of him. I also wanted to write the story of an ordinary man's life as though it was mythic," he continued. "And as I pieced the stories together, a whole life emerged, a life that was compelling and rich, magnificent and meaningful." One thing he never envisaged was that the book would become a film. The translation from book to screenplay is the work of John August who has reshaped the book into a magical narrative of Edward Blooms life.
“The kind of stories we’re telling in Big Fish are almost like rituals,” August explains. “They’re tales that have been told hundreds of times, not merely to recount what happened, but what should have happened. They’re extreme versions of life, superlative versions of the way you’d like life to be. Edward has a need to tell these stories continually so that everybody will remember them and, in the process, remember him.” But August has added another element to the magic, Bloom's son Will. "Every son looks up to his father, sees him as larger-than-life. But as you grow older, you start to see him as a man and not just your father," August said. "There’s that strange moment when you realize he doesn’t always know what he’s doing and neither do you. I think it’s pretty easy to put yourself in Will’s place, knowing that your father has a thousand qualities you love, but several that drive you crazy." What has driven Will crazy is the endless retelling of his fathers grand adventures which overshadow everything else in his life. Consequently he has left home and created a new life far from his father. "In Big Fish, Will learns he is about to become a father. At the same time, he learns he’s just about run out of time trying to connect with his own father. But he discovers that, despite outward appearances, Edward deeply loves his family and his wild stories contain real nuggets of truth. Will realizes that his own life turned out the way it did because his father challenged him to venture out and explore, which is how he ended up in Paris." Finally he is confronted with the realization that he must discover for for himself who his father really is and what truth, if any, there is in all his 'tall tales'. "The irony, of course,” August says, “is that he ran away from his father’s storytelling only to become a storyteller himself. The only difference is that his father spoke his stories, while Will writes his down."
Like all Burton films there is a lot of emotion in "Big Fish". Just ask producer Richard D Zanuck. "The script for Big Fish moved me to tears every time I read it," Zanuck explained. "Not only is it a story about fathers and sons, but there’s a great deal of fun in it as well – giants, witches, circus performers. It’s very entertaining as well as being a metaphor for living life to the fullest." When it came to having Burton direct "Big Fish", Zanuck is quick to say that he never doubted Burton couldn't pull this one off. "As he’s shown in films like "Edward Scissorhands", Tim’s stories have whimsy and fantasy with great heart," he said. "And when you think of the wacky, almost surreal "Ed Wood", you also remember Martin Landau’s moving performance as Bela Lugosi, which won him an Oscar® as Best Supporting Actor. Big Fish offered him the opportunity to go even further, to delve into the complex universal issues that resonate between fathers and sons and also to exercise his great gift for visualizing the exotic and bizarre." Perhaps like Will, "Big Fish" will realize something special for Burton by capturing a bigger audience share at the box-office. It's a grand, rich tale. A story that is truly magical. Casting About "Big Fish" was directed by Tim Burton ["The Island of Doctor Agor", "Frankenweenie", "Ed Wood" and "Sleepy Hollow"], produced by Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks and Richard D Zanuck ["Deep Impact", "Driving Miss Daisy", "True Crime", "Jaws" and "The Sting"] from the screenplay by John August ["Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle" and "Titan A.E"] with original music by Danny Elfman ["Beetlejuice", "Batman", "Edward Scissorhands" and "Good Will Hunting"] who has written the scores for 10 Tim Burton films.
"Big Fish" stars Ewan McGregor ["Brassed Off", "Little Voice", "Moulin Rouge" and "Down With Love"], Albert Finney ["The Entertainer", "Shoot The Moon", "The Dresser" and "Erin Brockovich"], Jessica Lange ["King Kong", "Frances", "Tootsie", "Cape Fear" and "Prozac Nation"], Alison Lohman ["The Thirteenth Floor", "White Oleander", "Delivering Milo" and "Matchstick Men"], Helena Bonham Carter ["A Room With A View", "The Mask", "Mighty Aphrodite" and "Planet Of The Apes"], Billy Crudduck ["Sleepers", "Without Limits", "Almost Famous" and "Charlotte Gray"], with Steve Buscemi ["The Way It Is", "Reservoir Dogs", "Pulp Fiction", "Fargo" and "Ghost World"] as Norther Winslow and Danny DeVito ["Junior", "Batman Returns", "Twins", "Heist" and "Ruthless People"] as Amos.
The Story The story of Edward Bloom's life is one so rich, so colorful that everyone loves to hear it told at every opportunity. Except for one person, his son William. No matter what the occassion may be, Edward Bloom always becomes the centre of attention and everything else suddenly, no matter how important, becomes insignificant. Finally William has had enough. It's time to distance himself from his father and make a life for himself. Years later, working in Paris, married and awaiting the birth of his first child, William receives a call from his mother asking him to come home and to reconcile his relationship with his dying father. Arriving home William decides that he must find out how much truth there is in the stories his father has told of werewolves, a giant, life in a circus, a witch with a glass eye and his battles to catch a fish. Not just any old fish but a "Big Fish". William Bloom is about to discover the amazing, incredible truth about his fathers life. The Verdict "A touching experience. Tim Burton's "Big Fish" is a beautiful tale, a rich tapestry of life, love and redemption. The strength of "Big Fish" lies in its splendid cast and the outstanding performances by both Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney. Burton's bent for the unusual ensures that like "Sleepy Hollow" and "Edward Sissorhands", the images and characters in "Big Fish" are spellbinding. For those who haven't experienced Tim Burton's unique style, "Big Fish" is certainly worth seeing. But be warned. Take the tissues. You'll need them! Recommended." The Cast

Ewan McGregor Albert Finney Billy Crudup Jessica Lange Alison Lohman Helena Bonham Carter Steve Buscemi Jeff Campbell Destiny Miley Cyrus Danny DeVito Karla Droege Trevor Gagnon Robert Guillaume Russell Hodgkinson Morgan Grace Jarrett John Lowell George McArthur Matthew McGrory Charles McLawhorn Mark McWhorter Hailey Anne Nelson Missi Pyle

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Young Edward Bloom Old Edward Bloom William Bloom Sandy Bloom Young Sandy Bloom Jenny Norther Winslow Jump Leader Ruthie Macklin Amos Ed's mom Will's Son Family Doctor Some Farmer Will's Date Young Don Price Colossus Karl Mayor Army Officer Young Jenny Mildred

The Crew Directed by Tim Burton From the Daniel Wallace novel "Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions" Screenplay by John August Produced by Bruce Cohen/Dan Jinks and Richard D Zanuck Executive Producer Arne Schmidt Original Music by Danny Elfman Cinematography by Philippe Rousselot Film Editing by Chris Lebenzon & Joel Negron Casting by Denise Chamian Production Design by Dennis Gassner Set Decoration by Nancy Haigh Costume Design by Colleen Atwood Production Manager Debra James Run Time 124 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2004 - Columbia Pictures - All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2004 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved