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For some reason, there's just not as much pressure for all you sons and daughters out there come the middle of June, when Fathers' Day rears its head. Mothers' Day can inspire some people to feel guilt for not calling their moms enough or showering them with enough affection, but most dads are more laid-back, it seems. Granted, getting deeper into this could probably fill a term paper or gender-studies dissertation, so let's veer away from such heady issues and focus on today's topic for the A-List: Fathers' Day movies.

Now, the topic's a bit hazy, as you'll soon see; these movies are not specifically about fathers, the good, bad, and ugly ones. Some of the movies are just great picks to watch on Fathers' Day. If you haven't already planned out something with your dad and you're stuck with bringing over a movie from your collection or something from his, any of these movies will make great choices.

Don't worry, though: none of the films on this list are about the most terrible fathers to ever walk the earth. Sure, one of the movies is about how family can be very close, but not for the better, but none of these movies are likely going to leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth. It's also worth noting that some famous movies about bad parents are more about the mothers (need I say the words "wire hangers" to remind you?). If anything else, this means that you're much more likely to find good messages about fathers in the films on this list that deal with them specifically; basically, you'd have to search out movies about bad dads. So, let's get to the list and prepare for the coming holiday!

Big Fish

In some ways, watching this whimsical comedy-drama from 2003 is a revelation. The director of Big Fish is Tim Burton, who brings many of his famous directorial flourishes to the film but manages to make it feel unique. Yes, there's a score by Danny Elfman, Helena Bonham Carter shows up, the production design is opulent yet somewhat gothic; still, the movie feels different. First of all, there is real sentiment and emotion here, something that wasn't so up-front and obvious in a Burton film since Edward Scissorhands. The film, based on a novel by Daniel Wallace, is about a son taking care of his gregarious and frustrating father in his final days. The son (Billy Crudup) has always felt resentment towards his father, a man who loved to tell what must have been tall tales about his life; from how he met the boy's mother to his time in the circus, everything Edward Bloom told his son, William, must be a lie. Right? Of course, the truth of it doesn't matter. Crudup is good as the stubborn son, but Albert Finney and Ewan McGregor, as the older and younger Edward, are great. Both men play the role perfectly, as we see how everyone loves Edward...everyone except Will. The ensemble cast is quite good (Alison Lohman, Jessica Lange, and Danny DeVito all show up), and the film's a feast for the eyes, as is any film from Tim Burton. The ending may cause a few sniffles in the room, but you can chalk it up to dust if it makes you feel better.

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