Big Eyes is the best movie Tim Burton has made in years and a fine example of how gifted a filmmaker he can be when subtlety is applied.
Rather than rely on an abundance of grandiose set pieces or a well-worn cast of frequent collaborators, Big Eyes manages to impress thanks to its attention to detail and emphasis on the societal impact of artistic movements. It is not often we see a movie attempt to challenge what the public believes to be art, and Big Eyes handles the task without judgment, remaining objective over so many different facets.
The film follows Margaret Keane, a real life artist, from the 1950s, known for painting children with exaggerated eyes, whose husband took credit for her work for many years. The story is filled with themes of female oppression, artistic identity and how we define art. Given the popularity of her work, the merit of it is frequently debated within the film, represented by John Canady, a harsh critic who saw no value in her paintings, while many other people, including Andy Warhol admired her style.
It may not put to rest the debate over what is and isn’t art, but it does provide a fascinating glimpse into how little the public discusses the quality of art, in favor of how fashionable it might be.
While the script laid the foundation for Big Eyes’ success, it was the more minute features that truly cemented its triumph. The makeup was done expertly in order to emphasize the eyes of each actor, and Amy Adams, who portrayed Margaret Keane, gave a stellar performance thanks to the way her minor nuances helped solidify the character as neurotic, timid and ultimately easily led.
In fact, the only small gripe I have with the film has to be its soundtrack. Tim Burton, once again, utilized the talent of Danny Elfman for the score, who managed to break out of his zany, upbeat comfort zone, but failed to accurately capture the tone of every scene.
The two original song contributions from Lana Del Ray, however, perfectly accented the scenes in which they were placed and remain some of the strongest pieces of music from any movie this year.
Complaints aside, Big Eyes is undoubtedly one of the better films I’ve seen this year. If you are a fan of Tim Burton, Margaret Keane or biopics about artists in general, you owe it to yourself to give Big Eyes a chance.
You won’t regret that you did.
