A Tall Tale Masterfully Told
Burton Reels In the Ultimate Fish Story

Seeing the new Tim Burton film Big Fish reminded me of the tag line of Sunset, a 1988 comedy, that stated "And it's all true. Give or take a lie or two." The story told in Big Fish isn't meant to be believed, neither within the context of the film nor by audience watching it, but it becomes true merely by the telling of it. As a film, Big Fish is beautiful. As a story of one man's life, it is nothing short of inspiring.

The narrator in Big Fish is Will Bloom (Billy Crudup), a young man whose father has been a teller of tall tales for his whole life. These stories are more than amusing stretchings of the truth. They are rich, vibrant stories filled with amazing characters, impossible events, and -- every now and then -- a good lesson. Told by Edward Bloom (played as an old man by Albert Finney and by Ewan McGregor in flashbacks), these are the true stories of his life. The stories take on a life of their own and -- as Will points out -- they don't always go in order or make any particular sense, but that's part of the telling.

As a child, Will believed every story, but as he grew older he realized that they couldn't be true. "You're like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny rolled into one!" he tells his father. The nature of Edward's constant narrative has driven a wedge between them and they haven't spoken for years. Now that his father is dying, his mother (Jessica Lange) has called him home. The result is a touching story of a son trying to know his father before it is too late, and trying to uncover the facts in his father's fictions.

To say that the film is cinematically interesting would be an understatement. Like many of Burton's achievements, Big Fish has the trademark Burtonesque look -- something surreal and haunting. The colors in Edward Bloom's stories are so vivid. The world always looks a little too perfect, too clean, too wonderful. Everything in the stories, from the settings to the characters, stands in stark contrast to dull reality in which Edward Bloom is dying.

Finney and Lange have an amazing chemistry together. Sandra's attention to Edward is played out in small ways, but always with a melancholy that is just below the surface. When Will asks her how much time his father has left, she doesn't meet his gaze and says quietly that they don't talk about it. Of course, what they do talk about is the past, the love that they shared with each other in the beginning and would continue to share forever.

I was truly stunned by the number of guest appearances in the film, including Robert Guillaume, Steve Buscemi, Danny DeVito, and Helena Bonham Carter. The biggest surprise is the wonderful performances by the people whose names you won't recognize, from the giant Karl (Matthew McGrory) to the Chinese conjoined twins Ping and Jing (Ada Tai and Arlene Tai). The amazing cast brings the world of Edward Bloom to life in a way that seems impossible. Karl goes from a frightening hermit to a quiet, peaceful giant who towers over everyone. Likewise, Ping and Jing manage to give a great performance considering they don't speak a word of English.

Ultimately, the power in the story is in neither the great direction nor the fine performances. This is a film that works because the story is a good one and it is told well. From the beginning to the end, the audience is hooked on this amazing tale. Like Field of Dreams, this is a movie that isn't about what everyone assumes it is about. It's not about stories, but about relationships. The film does not hinge on believing Edward Bloom, because the truth in his stories is only a small part of the truth. The truth is much larger.

One final note: Despite television advertisements touting Big Fish as the next Wizard of Oz, don't be fooled into thinking this is a film for children. There is some harsh language, suggestive themes, partial nudity, and the struggle between Will and his father is filled with tension and somber reflection. More than a few parents in the theater I attended were struggling with crying and talking children, whose short attention spans could not cope with the dramatic aspects of the story.

MY RATING: 9 out of 10.

RATED: PG-13
RUN TIME: 110 min.