Burton's odd look at the world is often a pretty nightmarish vision that divides the mainstream audience.
However, this latest installment sees Burton go for something a little smaller in terms of the budget and ambition i.e. not aiming for a huge box-office taking.
Another surprise was not seeing Johnny Depp or Helena Bonham Carter cast. Instead we get two high-profiled modern actors in the form of Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz.
When being told at the start that this film is based on true events, you will be attempting to fool yourself by the end and think "how is this a true story?".
You can see from the start, that this film is performance driven. The characters invite you in to this world of greed, deceit and betrayal. The story structure may feel predictable throughout the viewing. But the direction and production is wonderfully done and that is where the film sells.
The opening act sets our main characters up nicely and we are already interested in them. As the story develops, the performances continue to enhance. The final third of the film turns into something quite different, the tension is cranked up and the finale is completely insane and yet it is what actually happened.
I can say that the usual Burton strangeness is not there, but there are enough similarities to films such as Edward Scissorhands and Big Fish that keeps you making you feel like it is a Burton film.
One thing you will find in this film is the amazing artwork and visuals throughout. With this film being about a famous modern artist, there is a lot of amazing works that it manages to engulf the screen many times during the film. With this film involving art, there is of course, critics. There is a minor role played by Terrence Stamp who is plays a critic that reminds of the critic Anton Ego in Ratatouille.
Also, with this being set in the 1950's and 60's, we get a very interesting view of the art world and what capitalism in general was like back then.
Obviously the biggest positive that brings this movie to life is the acting. Adams is becoming a huge heroine in films lately. Whether your male or female, you will be inspired by her performance.
She really shows us her characters nobility, hard-work and perseverance, which was quite rare for a female at that time in America. You feel for her throughout, whether she is making the right decision or not.
However, her performance is only half the film. To make it complete, we have Christoph Waltz. Winning two Oscars for playing villainous characters, but showing a lot of deceitful politeness.
This one did not feel as sinister as his previous roles, but he still manages to knock another one out of the park. You see the greed, selfishness and lies this character makes. But it Waltz's style that gives the character legs. Both of them are easily in contention for Oscar nominations.
Big Eyes is a very entertaining drama that has an intriguing story with interesting chatracters. It may feel predictable, but those performances are so great that it gives enough freshness to this film.
It might not be one I would watch again. But it is one that must be seen, especially for the performances, production design and crazy story.
Rating: 7/10
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