BIG EYES (7 out of 10) Directed by Tim Burton; Written by Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski; Starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman, Terence Stamp; Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language. In limited release December 25. 106 minutes.
In the 1950s and 60s, a charismatic artist named Walter Keane began a pop art revolution, selling prints and posters of artwork featuring large-eyed children. The only problem? It was his wife, Margaret, who actually painted the pictures, and he was more PT Barnum than Pablo Picasso. This is their story, masterfully told by Tim Burton, himself a collector of original Keane paintings.
Both Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz are great here as the Keanes. Both have a great story arc, as Margaret goes from shrinking violet stuck by virtue of 1950s sexism to full-blown inconoclastic artist (and feminist hero) in her own right.
But the real transformation is Walter, who goes from affable, loveable scoundrel who you kind of love to the most intimidating monster possible. His final coup de grace is a courtroom scene where he represents himself, using all the knowledge of the legal system watching Perry Mason could give him.
It’s comedy and tragedy writ large, and Adams’ cool demeanor as she deals with his games one final time is masterful, rivaling Waltz’s Oscar-worthy performance. Waltz plays a full-blown sociopath, even when we don’t know yet he is one yet: we just assume he’s another fast-talking shyster frustrated by his own shortcomings willing to use his wife’s talent to further his name.
And it is all about his name and his reputation that motivates him. Terrence Stamp shows up all-too briefly as an art critic who savages Keane for what he views as his hackery. Margaret can’t understand why Walter is so upset over this criticism when it is, after all, her art. “But it’s my name!” he replies.
Burton has a lot to say here about art, and especially about changing up your artistic style when people always expect one thing from you. Much as Margaret Keane decided to explore other things besides big-eyed children, so to has Burton lost many of his telltale flourishes.
This is the least Burton-y movie that Burton has done in years. The film is in no way fantastically colored. Nor does it feature his stable of normal actors like Johnny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter.
This is Burton trying something new, and slightly more conventional, and succeeds to a large extent. But Burton’s attention to color, composition of shots, and ability to tell stories featuring quirky characters is just as much on display here as his other more, er, Burtonesque, films.
If this film has a problem, it is that it doesn’t get really interesting until the third act. But that third act, and especially that courtroom scene, are the stuff that Oscar gold is made of.
Overall, this is a fun film for anyone who loves art. So, if you’re looking for a somewhat artsy movie on Christmas Day and you don’t like singing, this is for you. If you’d like to see a movie that’s going to nominated for awards but don’t like all the artsy fartsy stuff and want something more immediately accessible? This is also for you.