Review of Big Eyes (2014) by David J — 28 Oct 2016

As art critic John Canaday states to a distraught Walter Keane, "Art should elevate, not pander." With a screenplay that's about as subtle as Margaret Keane's portrayal of a child's eyes and sometimes feels about as artificial as Walter Keane's autograph, Tim Burton's biopic "Big Eyes" is guilty of pandering.

But, with top-notch performances from all involved and an inspirational fact-based story, I see nothing wrong with "Big Eyes" being a worthy diversion for the lowest common denominator rather than a pretentious piece of art house because, unlike Canaday, I don't believe that it is necessary for artwork to elevate, I just think that art is all the better for it.