A bit of Steve Buscemi completism that was on the pile for a while. Directed by Tim Burton from a script John August derived from a novel by Daniel Wallace.
The life story of a fabulist, played in earlier life by Ewan McGregor and later by Albert Finney, as prompted by his son Billy Crudup and daughter-in-law Marion Cotillard. Wife Jessica Lange's performance is somewhat amazing as, like Cotillard, she has no character to work with; Alison Lohman as her younger self is less successful. The narrative is the purest, most whimsical American hokum, along the lines of Forrest Gump (1994) and The Princess Bride (1987). It is a relief when Helena Bonham Carter appears, several times, to steady the ship. Many scenes depict an expensive and materialistic notion of romance that makes it look like too much hard work. The flashback structure attempts to deny incipient mortality.
There's not much Buscemi but he does light up a scene in a bank and another at a funeral.
Roger Ebert: two-and-a-half stars, flat and listless. Stephanie Zacharek: holiday treacle, drearily affirming, dull, preachy, just tell us a story already. McGregor brought weightless cartoonish appeal.
