Big Eyes (2014)

  In a lot of ways, this is a perfect distillation of a Tim Burton film:  slightly creepy but whimsical, a washed out blonde lead, plastic suburbia, and a focus on the fake 50s nuclear family, but without the crutches of Johnny Depp, Danny DeVito, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Margaret Keane (Amy Adams) became a household name in the early 60s art scene for her painting of sad children with oversized eyes.  She painted hundreds and sold millions of dollars worth of original art as well as licensed reproductions in posters and postcards.  But no one knew because all the credit was taken by her husband Walter (Christoph Waltz), a brash, charming salesman.  It took a court case for the truth to out.

I've never liked the kitsch movement but Margaret Keane should be rightfully hailed as an icon, if only for the courage to insist on taking credit for her efforts in a time where good married ladies did not.  The movie is strong on portraying this and it does an admirable job.  Adams has always been good at vulnerability while Waltz has made quite a career out of cheerfully menacing characters.  He had to walk a particularly fine line to bring out the absurdity of Walter Keane while not detracting from his bullying.  

It's not a movie I'd throw into regular rotation.  It's a little too cynical to put next to Big Fish or Edward Scissorhands, but it's not bad.  Currently streaming for free on Tubi.