Big Eyes

Big Eyes is a 2014 American biographical film directed by Tim Burton, written by Scott Alexander and Larry
Karaszewski and starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. The film is about the life of American artist Margaret
Keanefamous for drawing portraits and paintings with big eyes, and follows the story of Margaret and her
husband, Walter Keane, who took credit for Margaret's phenomenally successful and popular paintings in the 1950s
and 1960s, and the lawsuit (and trial) between Margaret and Walter, after Margaret reveals she is the real artist
behind the big eyes paintings.
Big Eyes had its world premiere in New York City on December 15, 2014 and was released on December 25, 2014
in the U.S. by The Weinstein Company. The film was met with positive reviews, praising the performances of both
Adams and Waltz, with Adams winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress Motion Picture Comedy or
Musical and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Waltz was also nominated for
a Golden Globe Award for his performance and Lana Del Rey received a Golden Globe nomination for the film's
theme song "Big Eyes".

Plot
In 1958, Margaret leaves her husband and takes her young daughter Jane to North Beach, San Francisco.
Supporting her daughter alone, Margaret gets a job painting illustrations at a furniture factory. While creating
portraits at an outdoor art show, Margaret meets Walter Keane, who is selling his Parisian street scene paintings.
Soon, Walter proposes to her and they marry.
Walter goes to a popular jazz club and tries to convince the club's owner, Enrico Banducci, to purchase the couple's
paintings. He only agrees to rent out the walls to Walter. A drunk woman is touched by one of Margaret's paintings
and buys it. Walter fights with Banducci and ends up on the front page of the local newspaper. When Walter goes to
the club again it is packed with curious people. Dick Nolan, a celebrity gossip columnist (who serves as the film's
narrator), wants to know more about Walter's art, but is only interested in Margaret's paintings. Afterward, Walter
shows Margaret all the money they have made from the sales. He tells her they are a great team, she can stay at
home painting and he will sell her works.
Walter opens up his own Keane gallery, promoting the art as his own work, and sells reproductions. Margaret
becomes more upset about Walter taking credit for her art and lying to Jane about who is the real artist. Margaret
decides to paint in a different style with elongated features and small eyes, so that she can honestly tell people she
is also a painter.
Margaret and Walter move into a mansion. While going through a crate Margaret finds a stack of paintings of
Parisian street scenes, but they are all signed by S. CENIC. She realizes Walter paints over the name of the original
artist and claims the paintings as his own. Margaret confronts Walter, he confesses saying he always wanted to be
an artist, but never had the talent.
Walter learns of the New York World's Fair and demands Margaret paint something to put on display; she refuses
and Walter threatens to have her killed. Jane discovers her mother working on the World's Fair painting "Tomorrow
Forever". Jane tells her mother she always knew that she was the real artist.
At a party, Walter is angered after reading John Canaday's scathing review of the "Tomorrow Forever" exhibit and
confronts Canaday. Back at home Walter is still enraged and starts throwing lit matches at Margaret and Jane. They
run into the studio and lock the door. Margaret runs away with Jane.
One year later, Margaret and Jane have settled in Honolulu, Hawaii. Walter will not agree to a divorce unless
Margaret signs over the rights to every painting, and produces 100 more. Margaret agrees and continues sending
paintings to California. Margaret is visited by two Jehovah's Witnesses who convince her that honesty is important.
The next time Walter receives the paintings, they are signed "MDH Keane". On a Hawaiian radio show, Margaret
reveals she is the real artist behind the paintings attributed to Walter, making national news. Dick Nolan publishes
Walter's claims that Margaret has "gone nuts". Margaret sues both Walter and the newspapers that printed his
version of the story for libel and slander.
At the trial, reporters swarm the courthouse in Honolulu. The court quickly dismisses the libel lawsuit against the
newspapers. Without a lawyer, Walter defends himself against slander. Margaret testifies that she felt she had no
choice. Walter asks himself questions as a witness. The judge directs both Margaret and Walter to create a painting
in one hour as proof of the real artist. Margaret paints steadily, but Walter is hesitant, claiming his arm hurts too
much to hold a paintbrush. Margaret completes her painting and wins the lawsuit. Outside the courthouse, Margaret
says she doesnt care about money and just wants credit for her paintings. A fan asks her to sign a copy of
"Tomorrow's Masters" and she does, finally autographing her own work.