(From syracusenewtimes.com)
A movie about the art world? How boring!
Not so fast.
“Big Eyes” was produced and directed by Tim Burton. It stars Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. It’s about about real life artists Walter and Margaret Keane, and there’s a villain and somebody for which to cheer. And doe-eyed children in frames. Many, many doe-eyed children in frames.
To read my full take on “Big Eyes” in today’s installment of my weekly Film Review blog in the wildly attractive Syracuse New Times site — a work of art on its own, really — click the link below.
http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/big-eyes-everybody-can-see-art-burtons-vision/
The movie is set in the 1950s and 1960s art circle world of San Francisco, with a story somewhat odd and plenty colorful.
Have you followed the story of Margaret and Walter Keane in the news lately? Would you buy any of the Meade big-eye art? What is the most prominent art piece in your household?
Mark Bialczak 
Pretty sad – I’ve always disliked her work so intensely that I would never go to a movie about her – even one that shows it was her husband who unleashed it on us.
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Wow. You really despise the Big Eyes look, Cat. Entitled to your art tastes. I liked the movie.
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I think I’m going to like.
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love art and love art movies. Will put this one on the netflix queue after reading your review. Sounds to scary to see in the theaters.
Our “art” is my kids artwork, framed usually. Keeps it fresh and original, haha.
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Scary. That’s an interesting take on this one, Liz. Yes, it is, considering the way Walter confines Margaret as the lie grows out of control. But not in the traditonal monster Tim Burton sense of that word.
Art-wise, your household version is awesome. Very.
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I had written about seeing this, now will definitely wish to see it with your great promotion for the movie. I used to have a pair of big eyes, two girls, one in yellow and another in pink. I will have to check my boxes to see if I even have one of these, maybe a card or something with it… If I were decorating a bathroom or a baby’s room, I would include them, since eyes are very special. The acting of Amy Adams is above reproach. I liked Julie/Julia about Julia Childs with Meryl Streep in it.
I have my brother, Randy’s art on my walls, some impressionistic art, along with my one Alexander Calder print and my two paintings by my oldest daughter and one chalk one by her, too. Art is in my family… I have one lighthouse painting by my Dad who used big broad strokes and needed big walls to show his paintings on….
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Um…. I haven’t heard of any of this, but being set in the 50s/60s, it does entice me to want to know more. My “most prominent art”? Well, besides large photos printed on metal and hanging on chains in the photography studio portion of my home, I have a 5 foot tall framed photo of naked Jon Bon Jovi hanging in my bedroom (side nudity only) which was a Versace ad in the 90s. Is that prominent enough? 😉
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Warhol said her work must be good because so many people love it. EXACTLY. I love that anti-snob sentiment. Well played, Andy. I think the movie will tank, sadly. It doesn’t have the mass appeal of, say, a vampire or dystopian film.
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That’s why I picked it to review on a busy weekend, Mark. It appealed to me because of its regularness. Yes, Andy W nailed his review vs. the New York Times dude, that’s for sure. And I enjoyed this. Tim Burton’s touch was just right.
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I’m glad Burton is getting back to making more personal and character-driven films. He ran the risk of getting lost in big budget blockbuster land.
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Too much Batman franchise can do that.
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Did you like Sweeny Todd? I did but thought the violence was waaaayyy over the top. So unnecessary.
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Yes, too much. I am not a violence on the big screen type in general.
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I saw the 60 Minutes story on her and found the story so interesting – how long they were able to carry on the ruse is really incredible. Christoph Waltz and Amy Adams are both really hitting some homeruns lately, aren’t they? As to Big Eyes on my walls? Big N. Big O. (Such a snob, I know….)
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I had several Big Eyes prints when my kids were little Mark. I love them. Unfortunately, so does Gina. She took most of them with her when she left home, and they now decorate her walls. Mine are decorated with some of my counted cross stitch pictures, photos I have taken, and pictures of the grandchildren, with some murals from Romania, Greece, art from Germany, and photos taken in Colorado, Ireland, Italy, Egypt and S.W. USA. I have more decorations than walls when you get right down to it, but hate to give any of them up. My favorite is in the bathroom — a black and white I took of an old outhouse that could only have been improved by having one of my grandkids running toward it, or going in. Just didn’t have one handy at the moment.
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Good eye for art, Angie. And Eyes, too, of which your daughter Gina obscondered with, alas. 🙂
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Reblogged this on cherryclarke's Blog.
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Creepy big eyes! I’ve watched several late night interviews with both stars, looks interesting. Although I’m not a very good feminist to say, “Well, as long she got the money, who cares if she got the credit?” Each time I see the trailer, I see Amy Adams with Marilyn Monroe hair.
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Ah, she deserved the money and the credit, Kerbey. Walter was an original scammer. See the movie. I loved Amy with Marilyn Monroe hair. Never once did she break into a breathy “Happy Birthday Mr. President.”
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I’ve been tempted to look up stories about them but decided against it because I want to see the movie. And after reading your full review, want to see it more. And since I have a few days off….maybe I will. 🙂
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It’s a pretty movie with great acting, Colleen. Enjoy your days off! Thanks for reading my full review, by the way, my friend.
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You’re welcome. I’ve been very curious about this movie so I appreciate your review. I’m looking forward to it.
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I’ve never heard of this one. I’ll have to check it out. His movies are always intriguing.
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Yes, Tim Burton does things in his own intriguing way, Me Who.
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Hmm, I haven’t heard anythig about Big Eyes, Mark. I’ll have to do some rooting around. My tatse in art is rather eccentric. I have a numbered Bateman print of a tiger head, a signed print of a man and woman in an embrace called “Persuasion” and a trio of collage canvases of mermaids that are originals from a young North Carolina artist -Sarah. Ha! I just have a small (but warm) place, so that pretty much fills it. What I have has little or no value but I like it. There’s a sort of flow to it.
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They have value to you, Paul. Art in your eyes is the most important art. 🙂
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This is all a first for me, Chum. I will have to take a closer look.
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Google her, Aud. Intriguing story, this is.
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Other than reading about the movie, I haven’t really followed the story of the Keanes. Nor have I ever purchased one of the big-eyed pictures or prints. The most prominent art is an Erte I bought my wife for one of our anniversaries. My preference, though, are the M.C. Escher prints I have.
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Nice, Doobster. I have prints from local artists Karen and I bought in Maine and Bermuda while on vacation on our walls here.
You should go to “Big Eyes” to see your current city through Tim Burton’s eyes. I liked his view of San Francisco.
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Hmm. Well now that I know it takes place in my town….
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Great city street and park painting scenes, Doobster. Set in late 1950s and early 1960s.
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Oh goodie, another movie to see. Thank you, Mark. As for art … most of what we have is what I have drawn or photographed. (smile) I’m the famous artist on our walls. LOL (((HUGS))) Amy
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That’s a great thing for your house, Amy! With hubby getting back into the photo swing with your camera present, you two have to keep separate credits. Just saying. 🙂
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Tee hee ….. IF the man can find room on our walls, all the best to him. I started a LONG time ago … both with my art and my photography. Hmmm….. the walls on our stairwell are empty. He can use those. LOL Hehehehehehe Just sayin’ …… Love, Amy
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Nice of you to share the stairwell space, Amy! Are you sure the dungeon … er, basement, doesn’t have one corner open somewhere? Just kidding, my friend, just lkidding. 😉
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Hey, great idea. All the walls in the basement are empty. There you go! Seeing that hubby’s saw and worktable are down there, he now can have pretty to look at while he works. You are a genius, Mark. LOL Bless you. LOL
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we used to have some prints of these when i was a little girl and i was always fascinated by them. i really want to see this film!
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Amy Adams has become an A-lister for me, Beth, and Christoph Waltz is so different here than he was in “Water for Elephants” that I hardly could connect the dots. You’ll like it with the artsy world, too. 🙂
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Oh goodness, most of the art in my house are thrift store finds! All the same, I did find this movie interesting. When watching the preview, I thought it an unlikely turn for Burton until some more supernatural elements seemed to be at work. Thanks for the review, I’m intrigued.
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You can get some Big Eyes art, Marissa. Walter was the first guy to mass produce art cheaply on postcards and posters! (My price range kind of guy, he was, too.)
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