Review of Big Eyes (2014) by Melissa K — 01 Oct 2015

Amy Adams stars in this Tim Burton biopic about the 1950s artist Walter Keane who gained worldwide popularity and fortune as the painter of children with over-sized eyes. Keane caused a scandal when it was revealed that the actual artist responsible for the images was in fact his wife Margaret and he'd been taking the credit and most of the cash fraudulently.

He is depicted here as a charming but unstable and controlling, keeping Margaret and his step-daughter in a state of fear. It is fair to say that some of Tim Burton's films have been better than others and perhaps due to the subject matter reigning in some of his more excessive tendencies, Big Eyes is definitely one of his better movies.

It is a fascinating tale, told simply but effectively. Amy Adams is great in the leading role and Christopher Waltz manages to make Walter charismatic and menacing in all the right places. He comes over as an unhinged egomaniac, thoroughly unpleasant and manipulating.

Personally, I would have liked a little more tension in the trial scene and I think more screen time could have been devoted to this aspect of the story but, all in all, Big Eyes is a competent film telling an unusual story.