Among the most popular American directors, Tim Burton’s career includes many masterpieces, such as Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks!, without forgetting, of course, his two Batman feature films. At the height of his art in the late 90s, the latter suffered his first setbacks in the early 2000s, notably with the Planet of the Apes remake.
The period is difficult for Tim Burton. Apart from this huge box office success, the director lost both his parents within a few months. Eager to return to more intimate projects than his recent blockbusters, he decided to tackle the production of Big Fish, which Steven Spielberg was considering directing.
A turning point in Tim Burton’s career
Big Fish is an adaptation of the novel by Daniel Wallace. The story is the story of Edward Bloom, a father with a boundless imagination. Her brash nature and her repeated lies alienated her from her son, William. The latter goes to the bedside of his father, who is suffering from cancer. He decides to listen to his story and tries to distinguish the truth from the lie in Edward’s words.
“I liked this mixture, these purely imaginary moments that combine a sad banal situation, the loss of a loved one, it was difficult for me to maintain this balance while visualizing this story. Tim Burton said at the press conference for the film.
If Big Fish fits perfectly in the filmography of the filmmaker, the feature film is also a turning point in his career. By discussing the issue in a more realistic world, the latter reveals a side of the person unknown to the public. The shoot also takes a more autobiographical path as his partner Helena Bonham Carter shoots his scenes while pregnant with their first child.
A new alter ego for Tim Burton
While he was filming with his favorite actor Johnny Depp (he directed three times before Big Fish), Tim Burton chose a new alter ego in the form of Ewan McGregor. The Scottish actor has actually been cast as Edward Bloom as a young man, while Albert Finney plays him as an old man.
Upon release, the film received generally positive reviews. At the box office, Big Fish grossed over $123 million, barely exceeding its $70 million budget. This semi-failure then prompts Tim Burton to turn to more commercial projects like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Alice in Wonderland.
Although fans rarely point it out, many consider Big Fish to be Tim Burton’s last great film before his artistic decline. More than twenty years after its release, and despite several box office successes (as well as a few flops), the director has never created a work as personal as this one.
Tim Burton’s Big Fish hits Prime Video on December 14th.
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Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
