Review of Big Eyes (2014) by Art S — 22 Nov 2015

I think we can all probably agree that the number of good Tim Burton films can be counted on one hand and most are at least two decades old. It's sad but true. Big Eyes is no exception to this trend but it is better than all of Burton's work since Big Fish (2003).

However, it contains an incredibly flat-footed performance by Christoph Waltz as Walter Keane, the man who stole credit for his wife Margaret's paintings of big-eyed waifs that captured the popular imagination (if not the actual art world) in the early 1960s.

Fortunately, Amy Adams is very good as Margaret and manages to hold the picture together. It also looks good in a day-glo colored way. Burton only allows himself one surreal moment and it is probably good that he left it at that (maybe we could have skipped it).

Nevertheless, the film does resolve itself in a feel-good conclusion worthy of Disney and, you know, it's all pretty non-threatening.