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Big Fish (2003)
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After his foray into the dangerous world of remakes with Planet of the Apes, director Tim Burton returned to more familiar territory here — a strange place somewhere between reality and fantasy, dream and nightmare. Albert Finney plays Edward Bloom, an Alabama travelling salesman whose apparent neglect and selfishness, coupled with ridiculous stories of his exploits, have driven a wedge between him and his son, Will (Billy Crudup). Called to his father's deathbed, Will is infuriated when his wife is regaled with tall tales in which young Edward (Ewan McGregor) encounters a giant, a witch, a shape-changing circus ringmaster and a big fish no one can catch. Intent on exposing his father, the disgruntled son sets out to learn the truth. Despite being confined to his bed, Finney conjures up the charisma of the fabulist — brought to life in flashback by McGregor, performing his familiar but effective cheeky chappie routine. Essentially a road movie, Big Fish drifts colourfully along, but ultimately lacks the edge that made Edward Scissorhands so powerful, as well as so strange. BP
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Tell us what you think
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Running time
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119mins
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Country of origin
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US
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Genre
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Fantasy Drama
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Original language
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English
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Screenplay
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John August, from the novel Big Fish, a Story of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace
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Theatrical distributor
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Columbia TriStar
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UK cinema certificate
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PG
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UK cinema release date
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January 2004
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UK video release date
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September 2004
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| awards information |
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Award |
Category |
Name |
Nominee/Winner |
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| British Academy Film Awards 2003 |
Best Film |
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Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2003 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role |
Albert Finney |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2003 |
Best Screenplay (Adapted) |
John August |
Nominee |
| British Academy Film Awards 2003 |
The David Lean Award for the Best Achievement in Direction |
Tim Burton |
Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2003 |
Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical |
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Nominee |
| Golden Globe 2003 |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Motion Picture |
Albert Finney |
Nominee |
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Film certification logos reproduced by kind permission of BBFC |
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