Tim Burton’s Big Eyes is expected to be a major Oscar contender this year, and the first look at the film starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz has just been released.

With Tim Burton’s recent run of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows, and Frankenweenie, the director has made a long stretch of films that are similar in his usual style and tone. Not since Big Fish has Burton done something really different.

In Big Eyes, Burton has taken on a project outside of his comfort zone this year. It will be great to see the director take on the kind of project that he normally wouldn’t.

He definitely picked the right kind of project to do it with too. Big Eyes has been touted as the film that could finally land Amy Adams her first Oscar. With five nominations under her belt with nothing to show for it, this very well could be her year. The film could also make a play in other categories like Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Christoph Waltz. With its December 25 release date, Big Eyes will be a prime Oscar candidate.

Big Eyes stars Adams as Margaret Keane, the highly successful painter who had to deal with her husband Walter (played by Waltz) taking credit for all of her work. The film will follow the pair’s relationship from its beautiful beginning to its courtroom end where Margaret and Walter have to participate in a “paint-off.”

“This all seems so theatrical, like something you would design for a film. But that actually happened,” Adams said. “Living the lie was something that weighed heavy on Margaret. But she won her name back.”

“Walter starts out as a sane, rational, charming individual. But at the end of the movie, he has become completely delusional,” said producer Lynette Howell. “He takes on a whole other level of madness. I don’t know a lot of actors who could play that character and that journey.”

Today, two images from the film were released. Check them out:

Are you looking forward to ‘Big Eyes’?

Source: USA Today (image 1, image 2).