Amy Adams Plays Margaret Keane in Tim Burton’s New Artist Biopic

Amy Adams

Amy Adams

A far cry from Tim Burton’s typical cinematic style (note the conspicuous absence of Johnny Depp), the director’s new film Big Eyes tells the true story of artist Margaret Keane (played by Oscar-nominated Amy Adams) and her husband Walter Keane (played by Oscar winner Christoph Waltz). Keane became famous in the 1950s for selling his wife’s paintings of large-eyed children, which he freely took credit for as he believed no one would purchase the paintings if they knew they were made by a woman.

The recently released trailer portrays a naive Adams with a Marilyn Monroe-esque bob meeting the charismatic Walter, who promptly sweeps her off her feet. Adding a bit of art world bravado and glamor, the couple lives the American dream after Margaret’s paintings become wildly popular. It also touches upon Walter Keane’s commercialization of his wife’s art—which was a precursor of sorts to the Thomas Kinkade empire—as a character notes during the trailer: “He sells paintings then he sells pictures of the paintings and then he sells postcards of the pictures of the paintings.”

Exploring the awakening of the artist, her tumultuous relationship with her husband, and her courage to bring him to court, Burton’s new film Big Eyes looks like another potential Oscar nod for Adams and a delightful art historical cinematic experience. The film will be released through the Weinstein Company and will also star Jason Schwartzman and Krysten Ritter.

Watch the trailer for Big Eyes, which opens in US theaters on December 25, 2014:


Follow Artnet News on Facebook:


Want to stay ahead of the art world? Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward.