Big Eyes (2014)

"She created it. He sold it. And they bought it."

Directed by Tim Burton
Produced by Tim Burton, Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Lynette Howell
Written by Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski
Starring: Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Danny Huston, Jon Polito, Krysten Ritter, Jason Schwartzman, Terence Stamp
Music by Danny Elfman
Cinematography: Bruno Delbonnel
Edited by JC Bond
Production company: Silverwood Films, Electric City Entertainment, Tim Burton Productions
Distributed by The Weinstein Company
Release date: 25 December 2014 (Canada)
Running time: 106 minutes
Country: United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Budget: $10.000.000
Box office: $17.800.000

"Big Eyes" is a biographical drama film directed by Tim Burton and written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. It tells the story based on true events. An American artist Margaret Keane, who had created Big Eyes paintings, was burned by her husband Walter. However, will she clue his cheat?

Cast

• Amy Adams as Margaret Keane
• Christoph Waltz as Walter Keane
• Danny Huston as Dick Nolan
• Jon Polito as Enrico Banducci
• Krysten Ritter as DeAnn
• Jason Schwartzman as Ruben
• Terence Stamp as John Canaday
• Madeleine Arthur as Older Jane Ulbrich
• Delaney Raye as Young Jane Ulbrich

The name of Tim Burton speaks for himself. Frankly speaking, I've followed his work for years and when I knew about the beginning of "Big Eyes" making, I supposed that it would become one of my favourite films. And I wasn't mistaken. I'm still in agony of utter delight! Believable atmosphere of 1950s, wonderful music, the intriguing story and the not less splendid cast.

To begin with, I need to say that I love Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz! Therefore it was a great pleasure to see both of them in one film. Christoph Waltz as Walter Keane is so magnificent! His acting fascinates from the first appearance. In the beginning, he's a kind man who saves Margaret from her family problems but then he becomes himself her... biggest problem, yeah. As for Amy Adams, she upseted me a little. I was waiting for something more. But my expectations didn't hinder me to enjoy her performance. A talented woman who decided to get her award. Margaret Keane is worth admiration!

Advantages

• Amy Adams as Margaret Keane
• Christoph Waltz as Walter Keane
• Tim Burton
• Lana Del Ray
• The story
• Colours

Disadvantages

• Not fully exposed parts

"Strangenesses"

• And who is a victim?

Clue Moments

• The meeting
• The wedding
• Lies

Let me appeal to history. According to Wikipedia, Margaret Keane's works are recognizable by the oversize, doe-like eyes of her subjects. In the 1960s her artwork was sold under the name of her husband, Walter Keane, who claimed credit for it. On November 1, 1964, she left him and moved from San Francisco to Hawaii, where she met Honolulu sports writer Dan McGuire. She divorced Keane in 1965, and married McGuire in 1970. In 1970, Keane announced to the world, via radio broadcast, that she was the true creator of the paintings. When she sued Walter in federal court for slander, the judge famously ordered both Margaret and Walter to each create a big-eyed child painting there in the courtroom, in order to determine who was telling the truth. Walter declined, citing a sore shoulder, whereas she completed her painting in 53 minutes. After a three-week trial, the jury awarded her $4 million in damages. A federal appeals court upheld the verdict of defamation in 1990, but overturned the $4 million damage award. The works Keane created while living in the shadow of her husband tended to depict sad-looking children in dark settings. Once she had left Walter Keane, moved to Hawaii, and became one of Jehovah's Witnesses, her work took on a happier, brighter style. Keane's website now advertises her work as having "tears of joy" or "tears of happiness".

Deception, deceit, fraud, trickery, fraudulent misrepresentation, wilful misrepresentation, bunco, false representation, dishonesty and etc. There exists a lot of words with the same meaning. It's possible to cheat the crowd probably at first, but art is defrauded. A talent may either be in existence or not, and there are only two. It speaks volumes.

The time dictates the rules. So history defines the beginning of all problems but not all of them are solved. Even now our world is still poisoned with racism, agism, chauvinism and with other kinds of discrimination. But one of the main is sexism. In my opinion, Margaret is a true example of woman's power. If a woman lives in a man's world, it doesn't mean that all she can do is to submit. Women are full members of society, on the same level with men. And they aren't the weaker sex. Therefore we need feminism. A feminist generally self-defines as advocating for or supporting the rights and equality of women. This way, I can't understand people who blame this ideology.

But maybe the eye of any discrimination is disrespect? First of all, people's disrespect for themselves. Or the absence of love. If you don't love yourself, nobody will - it's the simple truth that almost everyone forgets. "Liberty, equality, fraternity". It's the national motto of France and the Republic of Haiti, and is an example of a tripartite motto. It finds its origins in the French Revolution - even at that time people knew what to do and what to think. But why people just use it today? In my opinion, it must become a motto of each person.

Soundtracks

1. Lana Del Rey, Hungarian Studio Orchestra, Peter Illenyi - Big Eyes
2. Cast Of Big Eyes - Bludan
3. Cast Of Big Eyes - Tropicville
4. Lana Del Rey - I Can Fly
5. Danny Elfman - Opening
6. Danny Elfman - Who's The Artist?
7. Danny Elfman - Margaret
8. Danny Elfman - Walter
9. Danny Elfman - Victory
10. Danny Elfman - End Credits

Quotations

* * *

Walter Keane: The eyes are the windows of the soul… That’s why I paint them so big. I’ve always done it that way.
Margaret Keane: Why are you lying?

* * *

Walter Keane: Sadly, people don’t buy lady art for paintings. The painting says Keane. I’m Keane. You’re Keane.

* * *

Margaret Keane: This is what it’s come to, huh? You are the only living soul I can tell my secret to. I painted every single one of them, every Big Eye, me, and no one will ever know but you.

* * *

Walter Keane: What’s your name?
Margaret Keane: Margaret. Wouldn’t you rather flirt with those girls down there?
Walter Keane: No, I like you, Margaret.

* * *

Margaret Keane: It’s like a mirage. From the distance, you look like a painter, but up close there is not much there.

* * *

Priest: What is troubling you?
Margaret Keane: I lied to my child and I’m just not that kind of person.
Priest: Is your husband that kind of person?

* * *

Walter Keane: Do you want to give back the money? If you tell anyone, this empire collapses.
Margaret Keane: If that’s the price…

* * *

Margaret Keane: These paintings are a part of my being. Maybe I could sign it myself.
Walter Keane: That sounds a big confusing. Doesn’t it? Keane means me.

* * *

Snobby Artist: He sells paintings. Then he sells pictures of the paintings. Then he sells postcards of pictures of the paintings.

* * *

Walter Keane: Would you rather sell a $500 painting, or a million cheaply reproduced posters?
Walter Keane: See, folks don't care if it's a copy.

* * *

Judge: That's not testifying, that's filibustering.

* * *

Ruben: Why are their eyes so big?
Walter Keane: Eyes are the windows to the soul!

* * *

You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 7/10

Entertainment: 8/10

Acting: 8/10

Originality: 7/10

Music and Sound: 8/10

8/10