Review of Big Eyes (2014) by Heatherm — 04 Jan 2015

This movie felt like a long series of missed opportunities. Both Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz came off as ultimately flat, making it that more frustrating that a cast of supporting characters were kept in the background rather than used to flesh out the story.

The movie often seemed more concerned with producing a shiny, gorgeous version of the 1950s and 1960s than it did with developing either the plot or the characters. Christoph Waltz isn't quite believable as the charming sociopath, because his charm is too manic from the beginning--I wanted him to be a more talented liar early on, so that his unravelling could be more satisfying.

Similarly Amy Adams' misery and submission aren't entirely convincing either, and the hallucinations so prominently advertised in the trailer had a minimal role in the movie, and lacked an accompanying narrative of mental illness to explain or justify them.

The movie was still somewhat enjoyable overall, but it felt too glossy and superficial to be a compelling portrait of the Keanes.