BIG EYES - Margaret Keane Biopic

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/12/14 at 9:45pm

Big Eyes is an upcoming 2014 biographical film directed by Tim Burton focusing on American artist Margaret Keane, whose work was fraudulently claimed in the 1950s and 1960s by her then-husband, Walter Keane. The film tells the story of their heated divorce trial wherein Margaret accused Walter of stealing her paintings. Margaret Keane will be played by Amy Adams, with Walter being portrayed by Christoph Waltz.

Margaret Keane's work as an artist became phenomenally successful in the 1950s, but Margaret was given no recognition for her work. Her husband, Walter Keane, claimed to be the artist and became a national celebrity and talk show fixture in the 1950s after he pioneered the mass production of prints of big-eyed kids, and used his marketing savvy to sell them cheaply in hardware stores and gas stations across the USA. Margaret generated the paintings from their basement and Walter's contribution was adding his signature to the bottom. The ruse broke up their marriage, and when she tried to make it known that she authored the paintings, they ended up in a court battle after she found that Walter took the paintings without permission. The case is culminated in a dramatic courtroom showdown.

Anyone else interested in seeing this film? As a kid I was fascinated with these paintings. I remember they were everywhere. I just loved the sad, soulful quality that was captured in these paintings.

The picture above is of my favorite actress Natalie Wood with two portraits she commissioned from Margaret Keane. One captures the child Natalie and the other captures the adult Natalie. So appropriate as Natalie's most outstanding feature were her big, soulful eyes.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/12/14 at 9:47pm

Keane also painted a portrait of Joan Crawford

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/12/14 at 9:48pm

Updated On: 11/12/14 at 09:48 PM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/13/14 at 10:07am

Very excited to see this, hopefully Burton will be back to making good movies again. I just can't help wishing he'd cast anybody but that goddamn Waltz.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/13/14 at 11:11am

Johnny Depp?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/13/14 at 12:07pm

Sure, I'll take Depp over Waltz.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/13/14 at 4:08pm

"I just can't help wishing he'd cast anybody but that goddamn Waltz."

I completely respect that others may not feel the same as I but as someone who greatly admires Waltz, what are your objections to him?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/13/14 at 4:31pm

I thought he was marvelous in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS, and have found him unwatchable otherwise: that dreadful CARNAGE where he was just so grossly miscast it almost isn't his fault, and what I was able to endure of the unspeakable DJANGO UNCHAINED.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/14/14 at 10:27pm

I agree with Roscoe re Christoph Waltz. He was marvelous in INGLORIOUS BASTERDS... and then we've been forced to see lesser variations of the performance in every other movie he has been cast after that. I particularly resent him winning an Oscar for a really mediocre turn in DJANGO UNCHAINED, especially since Samuel L. Jackson, who gave the performance of the film, wasn't even nominated. Roscoe, I can't believe you reminded me of that awful thing called CARNAGE, easily one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 3:44pm

I'm on the fence about Waltz. I think he's a fine actor, but I do have to agree that he did not deserve the Oscar for DJANGO UNCHAINED. Samuel L. Jackson was unjustly snubbed.

I'm really interested in seeing BIG EYES and I'm going to rush to see it because I do not see it lasting out the holiday season. I don't think it has a wide enough appeal.

Still, I am intrigued that Burton chose to direct it.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 8:58pm

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 9:20pm

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/15/14 at 10:10pm

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 3:31pm

I agree he didn't deserve his oscar for Django but only because he was a lead (in terms of action and dialogue probably the most extensive performance by any man in any movie that year) and got a supporting oscar. I liked him very much in Django and in God of Carnage and find neither character at all like his character in Inglorious Basterds.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/18/14 at 3:56pm

Ugh...I hated these big eyed posters. They were everywhere in the early 70s!

[east side story]

Posted: 1/5/15 at 1:29pm

Got around to watching this over the weekend. Nothing about the premise had me rushing to see it, but I figured it was worth a look.

I will be surprised if Amy Adams is nominated for another Oscar for this performance. The film, and her work in it, are too light. She's perfectly fine, minus a few scenes where her accent was either forgotten or overplayed depending on the scene. Minus her first nod, she has always been able to skate her way to a nomination thanks to her co-stars. Since she is the "star" of this one, she has no help. A talented actress, but so overly praised in my book.

This film also has the distinction of being Tim Burton's best film in well over a decade while remaining totally unremarkable in every way. I'd give it a "C."