--- title: "Big Eyes: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/big-eyes/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/big-eyes" critics_score: 60 critics_reviews: 28 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Big Eyes (2014): what the critics said Critics' score 60 from 28 reviews: 11 positive, 12 mixed, 5 negative. The consensus on Big Eyes is mixed, leaning towards modest approval. Amy Adams attracts the most consistent praise for giving Margaret Keane sympathy, anxiety and a growing resolve, even when critics find the surrounding drama thin. The period design, San Francisco imagery and Burton’s attention to Keane’s paintings also earn approval. Several reviews welcome his move towards more grounded storytelling; The Guardian finds an insightful account of Margaret’s struggle to claim authorship. The divide is over how deeply the film explores that struggle, with verdicts ranging from thoughtful and engaging to dramatically inert. Reservations cluster around conventional storytelling, shallow characterisation and an unsettled tone. Christoph Waltz is particularly divisive: The Hollywood Reporter praises his performance, while Variety finds him overpowering. Many reviews argue that the film raises questions about art, exploitation and recognition without examining them closely enough, though its warmer notices find substance in those same themes. ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2014. The critic sees the film as one of Burton’s most thoughtful and accomplished works in years. He singles out Burton’s successful move away from fantasy, horror and science fiction. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/big-eyes/5080040.article) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 December 2014. Kermode finds the film an insightful, grown-up return to form for Burton. He praises Amy Adams’s sympathetic portrayal of Margaret Keane and the film’s account of her struggle to claim authorship. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/dec/28/big-eyes-review-tim-burton-amy-adams) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 December 2014. O'Sullivan finds the biopic nimble and distressing, and a welcome change of pace for Tim Burton. She singles out the film's magnetic big-eyed imagery and its playful ambiguity about whether Keane's art is grotesque or gorgeous. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/big-eyes-film-review-a-lovely-change-of-pace-for-director-tim-burton-9935334.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Matt Zoller Seitz Rating 3/4. 24 December 2014. The review regards the film as an engaging account of artistic creation and exploitation. It singles out Amy Adams’s performance as a key strength. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/big-eyes-2014) ## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd Rating B-. 23 December 2014. Dowd finds the film an underwhelming, overly square biopic, despite some surface pleasures. He praises its mid-century San Francisco atmosphere but criticizes the passive portrayal of Margaret and distracting narration. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-biopic-big-eyes-adds-another-misfit-to-tim-burton-s-1798182277) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2014. McCarthy finds the film nimble and enjoyable, though less strange and resonant than Burton’s Ed Wood. He singles out Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz’s performances, along with the period design and San Francisco cinematography, for praise. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/big-eyes-film-review-749076/) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2014. The article appears to be a review of Tim Burton’s film, but the page content is inaccessible. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/25/movies/big-eyes-casts-another-side-of-keane-art.html) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2013. Freer finds the film entertaining but flawed, with its uneven tone and lack of depth holding it back. He praises Amy Adams’s compelling performance and the fascinating true story, while criticizing Christoph Waltz’s over-the-top portrayal. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/big-eyes-review/) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/3/2. 20 December 2014. The critic finds the biopic brisk but shallow, faulting Burton for missing the story’s subtext. The review praises the stranger-than-fiction premise while noting that the film barely examines the artistic and psychological questions it raises. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/big-eyes) ## Radio Times — Emma Simmonds Rating 3/5. The review finds Burton’s treatment of the true story kitsch and amusing. It praises how his soft, cartoonish visual style suits Margaret Keane’s paintings. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-1wk0ej/big-eyes/) ## Total Film — James Mottram Rating 3/5. 22 December 2014. The review finds the film watchable but ultimately ordinary. It praises Amy Adams’s performance while criticizing Christoph Waltz’s characterization as caricature rather than character. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/big-eyes-review/) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 29 December 2014. Edelstein finds the film engaging but uneven, with Christoph Waltz’s broad performance undermining Amy Adams’s work. He singles out the final stretch as tingly suburban-noir fun. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2014/12/movie-review-big-eyes.html) ## IndieWire — Eric Kohn Rating C. 14 November 2014. Kohn finds the film a bland, pedestrian drama that fails to deepen its compelling story. He praises its lush cinematography and polished visuals, while noting that Amy Adams provides a more credible source of tension. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-tim-burtons-big-eyes-isnt-a-return-to-ed-wood-glory-its-just-basic-68000/) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 2/5. 22 December 2014. The review finds the true-life drama peculiar and disappointing. It singles out Christoph Waltz’s performance as overplayed. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/big-eyes) ## Slant Magazine — Matt Brennan Rating 1.5/4. 8 December 2014. Brennan finds the film timid and inconsequential, with its social questions reduced to shallow caricature. He praises Amy Adams’s affecting portrayal but criticizes the direction and thin characterization. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/big-eyes/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2014. Sharkey finds the film too conventional and its portrait of Margaret Keane insufficiently realized. She praises the visual design and Burton’s handling of the courtroom painting scene. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-big-eyes-review-20141225-column.html) ## Variety — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2014. Chang finds the biopic shallow and unpersuasive, despite Amy Adams’s affecting performance. He praises Adams for giving Margaret a compelling center, while faulting Christoph Waltz’s overpowering performance for leaving the film little room to breathe. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-big-eyes-1201356160/) ## The New Yorker Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the film dramatically inert and lacking insight. They single out Amy Adams’s passive characterization and Christoph Waltz’s miscasting as major weaknesses. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/big-eyes-2) ## Digital Spy — Simon Reynolds Rating 4/5. 29 December 2014. The review calls the film a return to form for Burton, though it says Christoph Waltz’s tonal shifts weaken the courtroom scenes. It singles out Amy Adams’s steely performance and the film’s exploration of artistic recognition for praise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a618626/big-eyes-review-amy-adams-stars-in-a-tim-burton-gem/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 23 December 2014. Goldberg considers the film Burton’s best since Big Fish, while noting reservations about his suitability to tell Margaret Keane’s story. He praises the film’s thoughtful exploration of gender, authorship, and the pressures of commercial art. [Read the review](https://collider.com/big-eyes-review/) ## Consequence — Justin Gerber Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2014. Gerber finds Big Eyes a welcome, visually arresting return to personal storytelling for Burton, despite some shortcomings. He praises the performances and rich cinematography, while noting that the final act strains to make its points. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2014/12/film-review-big-eyes/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2014. Hammond gives the film a positive recommendation, calling it funny and weird. He singles out the terrific performances by Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2014/12/big-eyes-review-tim-burton-amy-adams-christoph-waltz-1201335416/) ## HeyUGuys — Amon Warmann Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 December 2014. Warmann finds Big Eyes an enjoyable, thought-provoking film, though its narrative lacks depth and subtlety. He praises the performances, especially Amy Adams’s portrayal of Margaret’s changing confidence. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/big-eyes-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2014. The critic finds the film a welcome, human improvement in Tim Burton’s recent work, though ultimately good rather than great. Amy Adams’s anxious, poignant performance stands out, while the film’s reluctance to explore its questions limits its sophistication. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/big-eyes-review-amy-adams-christoph-waltz-tim-burton/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2014. The page appears to be a review of the specified film, but its contents are inaccessible. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-tim-burtons-big-eyes-starring-amy-adams-christoph-waltz-20141222/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 3/5. 26 December 2014. The review finds Big Eyes an entertaining but surprisingly small success, held back by an unsettled tone and rushed storytelling. It praises Burton’s attentive treatment of Margaret Keane’s paintings, while faulting the thin characterization and the leads’ performances. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/big-eyes-review/) ## The Skinny — Josh Slater-Williams Rating ★★★. 18 December 2014. The review finds Big Eyes a more engaging and interesting film than Burton’s recent work, despite its unevenness. It praises Amy Adams’s strong lead performance and the film’s melodramatic stretches, while faulting choppy storytelling and ill-fitting comedy. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/big-eyes) ## Paste — Melissa Weller Rating 5.8/10. 23 December 2014. Weller finds the film’s feminist aims and dramatic story undermined by familiar storytelling and Burton’s restrained style. She singles out the performances as honest but hollow, with Amy Adams effective yet bored. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/big-eyes) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/big-eyes.md