Monday, December 22, 2014

Big Eyes Review - 2 Stars

Director Tim Burton says he made “Big Eyes” because he grew up drawn to Walter Keane’s paintings of big eyed child waifs.  The odd portraits went viral in a 1950’s manner:  reproduced as posters and on greeting cards and sold everywhere.  In real life, Walter Keane didn’t do the work.  His wife let him take credit and used his salesmanship to peddle the images.  Their divorce led to a court case in which she prevailed.  This true story might have made a pretty good documentary.  With Amy Adams as Margaret Keane, I had a hard time believing she would go along with this scheme.  The usually find actor Christoph Waltz plays Walter Keane so broad and loud and bullying that his performance feels annoying.  The finished result feels like a Lifetime movie, and  lacks the usual Tim Burton spark.  Does it deliver what it promises?  True story of an artist held back by her bullying husband.  Is it entertaining?  I believe the events happened but not the way “Big Eyes” presents them.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Didn’t feel like it’s worth the effort to me.