Quick Info
If you ever wondered about the stories behind famous paintings, “Big Eyes” offers a quirky and genuinely intriguing true tale. It chronicles the life of Margaret Keane, whose wide-eyed portraits became a sensation in the 1950s and ’60s—though her husband, Walter, took all the credit. Amy Adams gives a heartfelt performance as Margaret, and Christoph Waltz delights as the unctuous, manipulative Walter. The movie keeps things visually engaging with its retro sets and vivid colors that echo Keane’s art.
What stood out for me is how intimately the film explores the power dynamics in their marriage, making it more psychological drama than your typical biopic. There’s an undercurrent of satire about fame and authenticity, but it never loses sight of the human cost for Margaret. Tim Burton directed this, and while it’s less stylized than you’d expect from him, there’s just enough weirdness (and sympathy) to make the story pop.
The one downside is that the courtroom scenes toward the end almost feel too on-the-nose and crowd-pleasing, a little out of sync with the more subtle parts earlier in the movie. Still, if you like art, 20th-century Americana, or tales of women outsmarting a rigged system, you’ll probably find “Big Eyes” a surprisingly fun watch.
