Big Fish (2003)

Regista:

Tim Burton

Writers (WGA):

Daniel Wallace (novel)
John August (screenplay)

Data di uscita:

9 gennaio 2004 (USA)

Genere:

Drama | Fantasy | Comedy | Adventure

Slogan:

An adventure as big as life itself.

Plot:

A story about a son trying to learn more about his dying father by reliving stories and myths his father told him about himself.

Plot Keywords:

Wheelchair | Accidental Death | Paratrooper | 2000s | Bare Butt

Premi:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 32 nominations

Recensioni degli utenti:

Lying as an Art Form

Cast

Ewan McGregor	...	Ed Bloom - Younger
Albert Finney	...	Ed Bloom - Older
Billy Crudup	...	Will Bloom
Jessica Lange	...	Sandra Bloom - Older
Helena Bonham Carter	...	Jenny - Younger & Older / The Witch
Alison Lohman	...	Sandra Bloom - Younger
Robert Guillaume	...	Dr. Bennett - Older
Marion Cotillard	...	Josephine
Matthew McGrory	...	Karl the Giant
David Denman	...	Don Price - Age 18-22
Missi Pyle	...	Mildred
Loudon Wainwright III	...	Beamen (as Loudon Wainwright)
Ada Tai	...	Ping
Arlene Tai	...	Jing
Steve Buscemi	...	Norther Winslow

Alias:

Big fish - Le storie di una vita incredibile (Italy) [it]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for a fight scene, some images of nudity and a suggestive reference.

Durata:

125 min

Nazionalità:

USA

Lingua:

Inglese

Colore:

Colore

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sonoro:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Divieti:

Philippines:PG-13 | Sweden:11 | Malaysia:U | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Spain:T | Netherlands:MG6 | Brazil:Livre | South Korea:12 | Germany:6 (f) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Norway:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:L

Luoghi delle riprese:

Alabama, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Curiosità:

The television commercial shown while the older Ed Bloom is eating pancakes is, in fact, an actual commercial for Larry Puckett Chevrolet in Prattville, Alabama.

Errori:

Continuity: When the senior Ed Bloom and his wife are both in the bathtub together, there are separate shots of each of them at their respective ends of the tub. The water levels are noticeably different.

Citazioni:

Will Bloom: [to Ed] You're like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny combined - just as charming, and just as fake.

Movie Connections:

Fa riferimento a Ladyhawke (1985)

Colonna sonora:

Duelin' Banjos

Lying as an Art Form

What do you say about this movie?

I am at a total loss to describe it. The concept itself, a son tries to come to terms with his dying father that he knows nothing about but an enormous catalog of unbelievable stories, doesn't sound very promising. It sounds like a tired old formula, and I expected such when the rental started playing

It's not.

Werewolves, giants, witches, siamese twins, bank robbers, hidden cities, sirens, etc. are all present in the fantasy, but they seem unremarkably to be part of the life of an otherwise ordinary traveling salesman. Whether they really are or not is never made completely clear, but that's the rub.

I once read a review by Harlan Ellison in which the main point was how a well told lie illuminates the truth in far better clarity than a simple recitation of the facts ever can. At one point in the film, the questing son remarks to his bed-ridden father that he's heard all of his stories thousands of times, and he has know idea who his father really is. The father's reply is, `I've never been anybody but me from the day I was born. If you don't know who I am, that's your failing, not mine.' Later investigations make the point clearer. I'll bet Ellison loved this movie. It is an extraordinary lie.

Did I like the film? You bet. It's Tim Burton's best work without a doubt. Is it for everybody? Probably not. Many will find it confusing and pointless, but good fantasy is like that. All I can say is, relax and let it happen. You won't regret it.