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Daniel Wallace
courtesy of John Rosenthal
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"The Man Who Wrote BIG FISH"
Author Daniel Wallace is best known as the man who wrote BIG FISH. It isn't that BIG FISH was a top ten best seller, but it was made into a movie by Tim Burton. So the fame of the movie enhanced the fame of Daniel Wallace.
Recently I had a chance to speak with Daniel Wallace by phone. I discovered he is one of those rare writers who like the way Hollywood handled the movie version of his book I asked him what was the best thing about the movie as related to his book, and what was the worst thing.
"I really liked the way they handled the death scene with Albert Finney. That had a lot of emotion and humor in it. I also liked the way they included the fantasy mixed with reality. That is the way the book is and I was glad to see they got it right in the movie," he said.
"I painted the father in my book as an adulterer and I didn't think the movie went far enough in doing that. I don't think they felt that they could and that is alright," he continued.
"The thing that amazes me," he offered, "is that people are so divided over the film. They seem to either love it or hate it. It was very polarizing. I loved it and I thought everyone would."
Wallace is also famous as an illustrator. "I get to combine that with my writing skills in my new book O GREAT ROSENFELD," he said. "This book is a fable for adults so the illustrations with my images are appropriate. My artwork has not been seen on the covers of my other books or inside them."
Wallace currently lives and works in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and Alabama is where "Big Fish," the movie, was filmed. "I got to visit the set and meet all the cast," he said. "It was a wonderful experience."
"Big Fish" is now out on video/DVD and you can see all the fantasy/reality charm it offers as it tells its story of a man who is larger than life. His son tries to figure out the real man behind the myths and that is the core of the story.
Ewan McGregor, Danny DeVito, Helena Bonham Carter, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup and Jessica Lange are the stars of the movie. They bring the story to life but as Wallace said, you will either love it or hate it. I didn't love it.
I didn't love "The Haunted Mansion" either and I am a big Eddie Murphy fan. There was just something about this film, which is based on a Disney World ride, that turned me off. Murphy plays a real estate agent who is neglecting his family. One day he takes his wife and kids with him when he goes out to talk with the owner of a spooky mansion. The family gets trapped into staying overnight and frights and chills follow.
Marsha Tomason plays Murphy's wife while Terrence Stamp is the wicked servant at the mansion. They are okay, but it is Jennifer Tilly who shines as the disembodied head in a crystal ball. She really gets into her role and has a "ball" with it.
Remember "Wild Things"? That 1998 movie featured Neve Campbell and Denise Richards as girls on a killing spree. It also featured Matt Dillon and Kevin Bacon. Now there is a sequel of sorts called "Wild Tings 2" and it is on video/DVD.
This film stars Brittney Havers and Maya King as two teenage girls who murder to gain money. The film is sexy and exciting but not nearly as good as the original. Oh where is Kevin Bacon when you need him!
Luke Wilson, Ben Affleck and Denise Richards co-star in the comedy "The Third Wheel." This is the story of a couple's date that is interrupted and joined by a homeless man. The course of true love never runs smoothly and when there is a "third wheel" it is even more difficult.
Finally there is "Tube," an action packed film about a terrorist on a subway. This Korean feature is full of suspense and more action than any ten other movies. You have to see this film to believe it. Action films don't have to be in English, they just have to have thrills and this one does. |
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©2004 Jackie K. Cooper |
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