Big Eyes (2014), PG-13, ★★★

Waltz and Adams having a little argument. 

A portrait or picture of something or someone magical or inventive has to have a great trademark of a true artist. But, is the artist's trademark actually in the painting or hidden and we have to feel the same emotion in compared to their other paintings? The artistic value in its paintings are overlooked by people and focus on how it will be sold and almost every painting is worth a lot of money, especially to high-caliber people. How far will it go for a husband and wife to go against each other's throats to get what each will deserve? It is a straight-forward and intimate movie about the struggle of a woman's reputation behind the man's success of her paintings.

Margaret (Amy Adams) is a talented painter having no work experience but has the studied craft at an art institute. However, her talent for painting people's portraits outside an outdoor art show is widely ignored. However, Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz) is caught by Margaret's ability and talent of her portraits and encourages Margaret to show her aggression in her salesmanship in her persuasive presentations. Margaret and Walter discuss the matters and about each other and that he reveals that he is good at promoting, advertising and making deals with other people. Later, Walter asks why Margarets paint the eyes so big and she responds that the eyes are "the windows to the soul".

They eventually get married in Hawaii and Margaret continues to do what she loves best, however, the portraits are signed KEANE. Walter tries to sell his work in an art gallery interrupting the owner, Ruben (Jason Schwartzmann), who is trying to make a sale. Walter and Ruben make angry comments at each other before Ruben threatens Walter with the police. Walter tries to sell the paintings in jazz clubs and initially becomes unsuccessful but due to the popularity of Walter Keane fighting with a jazz owner and his gift of selling, Walter gets more money and shows off to Margaret how they can be a good team. But, a controversy arises when they both argue about who is doing what and how they can solve it. It is going to be a struggle, indeed, between the married couple.

Jason Schwartzmann as Ruben.

I am not big fan of Tim Burton's work, where most of his films are overwrought with dark shadowy backgrounds, dull characters, dragged-out scenes and not much pep and energy. This movie does not have 3 out of the 4 things, whereas, the movie does not have as much energy as I though in the story. But, it is enough for me to enjoy the movie and it worked because of the one characters enjoying breathing the artistry and evoking the vulnerability of not standing up for herself against her husband.  Also, it is sad and heartbreaking to see a woman not getting the credit and suffering from the lie. It is been shown by her tears and her shy voice.

Amy Adams gives a lovely and gem-like performance as Margaret Keane who evokes both vulnerability and spunk to showcase her ambitions to say that she deserved all the credit for her paintings. She is one of the few actresses, I think, that can disappear into a role in a biopic and sell it beautifully. Christoph Waltz gives a performance with panache and a chilling and visceral intensity as the husband as he showcases his charm and anger in certain scenes quite well. At times, however, he almost goes into another dimension, but, in a very weird way. Nevertheless, it is showy. Krysten Ritter and Jason Schwartzmann deliver the humor. Terrence Stamp, in a little role, is quite eccentric and definitely not sudden when a fork get close to his face.

The movie does work for me but the second half is what lacks bite and tension as Margaret goes to a tribe of Jehovah's Witnesses and encouraging to tell her the truth and it goes into a predictable climax in a trial where no suspense is there. And, at times, the arguments get a little carried away and a bit arbitrary as to what they are arguing about over and over again that we knew in the first half of the film. It is like a zoo between them. But, Burton dials down on his style and lets the actors roll and the look of the film is vibrant and atmospheric metaphorically to the sensation of Margaret enjoying her work. This movie is not as special or as compelling, but it is a nice movie about an artist's awakening and the struggle she has to face to become recognizable. It is fine thanks to two great central performances.

***