Saturday, March 21, 2015

Movie Review ... Big Eyes

 

 

Big-Eyes-PosterThe last time director Tim Burton helmed a bio-pic was 1994’s ‘Ed Wood’.  Exploring the exploits of a famously strange film-maker, the subject matter was perfect for Burton’s gaze.  ‘Big Eyes’ doesn’t quite match that earlier work.  Although based on true events, it only achieves moderate success.  Sometimes stories have to fit the director handling them.  Whilst ‘Big Eyes’ has many suitably quirky moments, there aren’t enough to sustain the visual flair for which Burton has become known.

A successful painter whose portraits of large-eyed waifs became internationally known, Margaret Keane (Amy Adams) felt cheated.  With her husband Walter (Christoph Waltz) signing her portraits and taking full credit, Margaret’s talents weren’t properly recognised.  After Walter mass produced her work for cheap prints, she took action.  Taking Walter to court in a bid to re-claim her work, the case set a bench-mark in the name of art.

As with any movie biography, what’s on screen has to be taken with a grain of salt.  Nobody can exactly know how things happened.  Framed as an examination in self-esteem and trust, ‘Big Eyes’ derives interest.  As Margaret sees Walter de-valuing her work by selling cheap copies which mirrors Walter’s attitude towards her.  Using her talents for his own selfish needs, Walter’s actions could only be stopped when Margaret fully believed in her own sense of self-worth.

These elements provide a strong basis from which to craft the script.  Unfortunately the performances are hit and miss.  Although Adams and Waltz initially construct strong characters, Burton’s direction lets them down.  Confined to telling a straight bio-pic without his usual visual finesse, he over-compensates by sharply highlighting the couple’s marital dramas.  This leads to the actors delivering totally over the top interpretations.  Authenticity unfortunately becomes discarded in favour of outlandish theatrics robbing events of much believability.

‘Big Eyes’ is better than most of Burton’s recent output.  Whilst issues deprive it of being one of his best, it is nonetheless an intriguing slice of history.  It shows Burton can do other types of movies although hopefully his next will be better tailored to his unique talents.

  Big Eyes 9876

Movie Review Rating out of 10:  6

Movie Review by Patrick Moore

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