Big Fish (2003)
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A frustrated son attempts to separate fact from fiction in the life of his father, a man known for telling tall tales.
The story
Will Bloom is a man who has grown weary of his father Edward's fantastical and exaggerated stories, believing them to be mere fabrications. Following a falling out over these tales, Will is forced to confront the reality of his father's life when Edward is diagnosed with cancer. Will and his pregnant wife, Joséphine, travel to Alabama to spend time with him. As they navigate this period of transition, Will begins to investigate the truth behind the myths his father has shared throughout his life, attempting to find the man behind the legends before it is too late.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
At his wedding, Edward Bloom recounts a legendary tale of catching a giant catfish. His son, Will, who is tired of his father's 'tall tales,' has a falling out with him. Years later, when Edward is diagnosed with cancer, Will and his pregnant wife Joséphine travel to Alabama to be with him. The film weaves through Edward's past—his encounter with a witch, his travels with a giant named Karl, his life in the town of Spectre, and his time in the circus where he met his wife, Sandra. In the present, Will investigates these stories and learns from others, like the woman Jenny, that many of the tales have a basis in reality. As Edward faces the end of his life, he asks Will to narrate his final moments. Will tells a final, fantastical story of their escape from the hospital to a lake where all the characters from Edward's life gather. Edward dies peacefully as he transforms into a giant catfish. At the funeral, Will and Joséphine realize that the people from the stories were real, and Will eventually passes these legends on to his own sons.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 125
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tim Burton
- Writers
- John August · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Ewan McGregor · Edward Bloom (young); Albert Finney · Edward Bloom (senior); Billy Crudup · Will Bloom; Jessica Lange · Sandra Bloom (senior); Helena Bonham Carter · Jenny (young & senior) / The Witch; Alison Lohman · Sandra Bloom (young), née Templeton; Robert Guillaume · Dr. Bennett (senior); Marion Cotillard · Joséphine
- Genres
- fantasy; drama
- Themes
- reconciliation
- Tone and mood
- Southern Gothic; fairy tale
- Premise and plot tags
- father-son relationship; mythic proportions; tall tales
- Source material / true-story basis
- Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and grossed $123 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 7.2 · scale: 10; Metacritic · score: 58 · scale: 100 · review count: 42
- Awards and nominations
- Grammy Award · original score · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in Alabama and Paris.; The film features a musical adaptation that premiered in 2013.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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