Big Fish (2003)

Director: Tim Burton
Format: DVD
DVD Features: trivia game, commenatry, featurettes
Starring: Billy Crudup, Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Helena Bonham Carter
Trailer

Since the release of Frankenweenie and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure in the mid 80s, Tim Burton has been cultivating a loyal fan base. Most of his films are very successful at the box office and there are a number of well-known figures in Hollywood who collaborate with him regularly. In fact, part of the appeal to his movies, at least for me, is to see what people like Johnny Depp and Danny Elfman will have to contribute. There is no project in which he is involved however, that does not carry Burton’s unique stamp in one form or another. From the telltale black and white wardrobes and sets to the fairy tale ambiance, when you see a Burton film, there’s no mistaking that style.

In Big Fish, Albert Finney plays the aged and ailing Edward Bloom. Realizing that he might not get another chance, Mr. Bloom’s estranged son Will (Billy Crudup) travels to his father’s bedside in an attempt to find out the truth about the man’s life before it’s over. Will is frustrated because he has always heard about his father’s history in the form of fanciful stories and incredible adventures. He stopped believing the tales when he grew up, but has endured them over and over again whenever the elder Bloom recounts his past. It is through these recollections that the audience is introduced to the young Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor).

As a young man, Bloom was the energetic hero of a small town. When he decides that he’s grown to big for his surroundings, he leaves to explore the bigger picture. He meets up with a giant named Carl (Matthew McGrory) and wanders off through an enchanted forest. There, he finds the small town of Spector; eerily pristine and picturesque. The two travel on and meet a roaming carnival. Under the big top, Edward spots the girl of his dreams, and Carl finds a career. For years, Bloom slaves away, doing odd jobs for the carnival’s boss, Amos (Danny DeVito) in exchange for simple facts about the mystery girl. Finally, he is able to woo her and shortly after the two are married, he is drafted into the war. Taking on the most dangerous assignments, the young hero parachutes into China where he meets the Siamese twins, Ping and Jing. After returning from the war, Bloom takes on a traveling sales job, ending up in the town of Spector again. He finds the town in disrepair and sets about rejuvenating the buildings and the residents. In between these flights of fancy, Will is trying to dig up the truth behind each tale.

Big Fish definitely has star power. Ewan McGregor, Danny DeVito, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi, and Jessica Lange give stellar performances as the various and colorful characters in Blooms adventures. McGregor has always been an actor I enjoy. I like that he takes on a wide range of roles and I empathize with his distain for Hollywood. If it weren’t for the way he portrays Edward Bloom in this film, I think the character would have come off as a pretentious jerk. But, McGregor’s treatment of the role with sparkling grin and perseverance in the face of adversity makes Bloom eminently likeable. One other actor of note in this movie is Matthew McGrory. He made it into the Guinness Book of World Records twice; once for tallest actor and in 2006 for having the longest recorded feet.

The very best effect in Big Fish comes when Bloom spots the lovely young Sandra (Alison Lohman) under the big top. The surroundings come to a complete standstill, popcorn suspended in air and cat mid-jump. If you’ve seen the trailers to the film, you might recognize the scene I’m describing. There are some other computer aided scenes in the movie, particularly those of the fish, but they don’t click with the rest of the footage quite as nicely. Most of the visual appeal on screen comes from the very Burtonesque costuming and set design. Keep an eye on Mr. Soggybottom’s outfit particularly.

I don’t think that my enthusiasm for Tim Burton’s films is easily veiled. Because I enjoy the darker side of cinema and the aesthetic texture his movies project, I’d be predisposed to his work anyway. However, there’s a definite way in which he conveys each story and a style in which he directs the actors that goes beyond set design and stop action animation. There have been two disappointments to date in his filmography, but Big Fish wasn’t one of them. Despite the slightly creepy overtones to this film, it remains, much like Burton’s other works, upbeat and fun.

Overall Rating: 4
Hottie Rating: 1 (not McGregor at his hottest)

Alternate Viewing: Pee Wee's Big Adventure
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Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Director: Tim Burton
Venue: DVD
DVD Features: trailers, photo gallery, interviews, featurette, director commentary
Trailer

Let me start by stating the obvious (to some). I am a Tim Burton fan. He’s got a distinctive sense of style, a great sense of humor and that certain finesse that few directors can touch. So, my review of any film directed by Burton is going to be a little biased. Conversely, the few movies that have disappointed on the scale of his other works, might otherwise have been given a good review, when compared to any common film. With that said, let’s take a look at Sleepy Hollow.

Hopefully, many people are already familiar with the story of Sleepy Hollow. I personally recall seeing the Disney animated version several times as a child and Burton reportedly based his version on that one. This new version of Washington Irving’s classic tale adds much more depth to the character of Ichabod Crane (Depp). After causing trouble in New York with his newfangled ideas of scientific research and criminology, his “superiors” sentence him to investigate the mysterious decapitations occurring in the village of Sleepy Hollow. Once he arrives, he is told the story of The Headless Horseman and sets out to disprove the myth and catch the real killer. However, his investigations lead him right back around to the world of magic and fantasy.

Plot: 4 ½ stars

As far as I am concerned, Johnny Depp is among the most talented (not to mention best looking) actors in the world. He’s also one of the most under-appreciated, in my opinion, as he has yet to be presented with an Oscar. He and Burton have a successful history together and he played a fantastic Ichabod Crane. Depp plays the character as an awkward and eccentric detective with a shadowy and troubling past and does it all in a beautifully humorous fashion. On the other hand, the worst casting call in Sleepy Hollow is the role of Christopher Walken as The Headless Horseman. Why cast an actor known for his brilliant performances and famous delivery as a character with virtually no lines!? It’s a travesty to be sure. Christina Ricci, who plays Crane’s love interest Katrina, didn’t seem very invested in the role to me. It was as if she was constantly distracted. I think any other similarly compensated Hollywood actress could have filled the role without much of a noticeable difference. Michael Gough, who plays Notary Hardenbrook, does the finest job of any of the village elders in Sleepy Hollow. Although his role isn’t a very large one, he is totally convincing in it. Miranda Richardson, however, is completely awful as Kitrina’s evil stepmother. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that she was reading from cue-cards.

Acting: 4 stars

It should already be obvious that Sleepy Hollow doesn’t feature any car chases or gun fights. But, it does have severed heads! (Yay for severed heads!) It has horse/carriage chasing and even witchcraft, wooden stakes, and an undead soldier. What more could an audience want? Did I mention that there are severed heads?

Action: 3 stars

As with most of Tim Burton’s films, expect a fantastic wardrobe of black and white stripes and that special brand of creepiness that pervades the entire set. The town of Sleepy Hollow is wonderfully absorbing due in large part to the set designs, costumes, lighting, make-up and other random features integrated throughout. The minimal CGI is not quite up to par with more recent films, but well done on the scale of the late 90’s.

Visual: 4 ½ stars

My favorite quote related to this movie isn’t in the script. Another interview I was reading for the film quotes the director as saying, "I've always wanted to make a movie where one of the characters didn't have a head." What’s that you say? “Not fair, you have to pick a quote from the film,” you say? Fine then! I guess I’m just so pissed off that Christopher Walken doesn’t have any lines that I got distracted. The best string of dialogue that comes to mind is the scene in which Ichabod is huddled in bed following his encounter with the horseman. “But it was a horseman…(pause) headless! (faint)” The line doesn’t look like much on paper, but the way Depp delivers it is hilarious.

Dialogue: 3 stars

When I saw this movie in the theater, back in ’99, I didn’t think much of it. I had been so psyched up about Burton’s rendition of the tale, that I was actually a bit disappointed with it (especially the acting). Now that I’ve seen it a few times on DVD, it’s grown on me, but it’s still not one of my favorites.

Alternate viewing choice: Delicatessen
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