Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Amy Adams | ... | Margaret Keane | |
Christoph Waltz | ... | Walter Keane | |
Danny Huston | ... | Dick Nolan | |
Krysten Ritter | ... | Dee-Ann | |
Jason Schwartzman | ... | Ruben | |
Terence Stamp | ... | John Canaday | |
Jon Polito | ... | Enrico Banducci | |
Delaney Raye | ... | Young Jane | |
Madeleine Arthur | ... | Older Jane | |
James Saito | ... | Judge | |
Farryn VanHumbeck | ... | Lily | |
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Guido Furlani | ... | Dino Olivetti |
Elisabetta Fantone | ... | Olivetti Girl | |
Emily Maddison | ... | 2nd Olivetti Girl (as Emily Bruhn) | |
Brent Chapman | ... | Factory Boss |
In San Francisco in the 1950s, Margaret was a woman trying to make it on her own after leaving her husband with only her daughter and her paintings. She meets gregarious ladies' man and fellow painter Walter Keane in a park while she was struggling to make an impact with her drawings of children with big eyes. The two quickly become a pair with outgoing Walter selling their paintings and quiet Margaret holed up at home painting even more children with big eyes. But Walter's actually selling her paintings as his own. A clash of financial success and critical failure soon sends Margaret reeling in her life of lies. With Walter still living the high life, Margaret's going to have to try making it on her own again and re-claiming her name and her paintings. Written by Anne Campbell
Based on a true story, brrr... Burton ventures into the realm of TV movie land (that's where most true story movies dwell) although this was a limited cinematic release and also limited success. Amy Adams plays a painter who paints children with Big Eyes. She meets and marries Waltz who shortly after begins to take credit for her work. Adams is cast well as the good virtuous woman and Waltz is a bit type-cast as the friendly but guy-you-love-to-hate-and-wanna-punch-in-the-face bad guy. But he plays it big and sometimes a bit comedic which makes the tone of the film lighter. Big Eyes has a very colorful set- and production design and looks great. The movie itself tough feels like it could have been made by any other director and doesn't have the Burton feel. So you could say it's the least Burton-esque film in his repertoire. Seeing it in the cinemas won't add much value, it's more a nice Sunday afternoon flick that works just as well on your small screen.