Film Review: Big Eyes (12A) (U.S.A. 2014) (Director: Tim Burton), Filmhouse, Screen One, Edinburgh, Monday 29.12.2014, 20:35

I was intrigued by this film due to how unburtony the promotional coverage was. Tim Burton is a director I have a lot of time for, though he can be hit 'n' miss. The film tells the true story of Margaret & Walter Keane. At the point of meeting for the first time, Margaret understands Walter to be a fellow artist. After they were married Walter begins to take credit for Margaret's very distinctive work using the rationale that people don't buy female art. By this being a true story, it is predictable from the off that this lands up in court.

The film was a good presentation of how socially in the 1950's and 1960's it was very normal for wives to be dominated by their husbands in the U.S. of A., to the extent of their self identity becoming vastly compromised. 

Amy Adams was very good as someone trying to do the best they can in difficult circumstances. Regrettably Christoph Waltz's character was like a great big slab of ham. I understand that it is possible that this may be a fairly accurate portrayal, though it still felt too heavily acted. 

The film distracts itself for a period, to put over questions about what is art. I feel this unnecessarily complicates the film as is not relevant to the central strong thread to the film, that of someone being denied ownership of their work, work that is also very popular with others despite what art critics may think.  

The film is a good watch, a reasonably well told though flawed yarn, though to me it is not up there with the best of Mr. Burton's work.   

Rating: 07/10.