Tilda Swinton is one of the most captivating screen actors of our time. Luckily, she has decided to pursue a most adventurous career, with recent roles in the Italian "I am Love" and the US/UK co-production "We Need to Talk About Kevin". Her films are as often art house fare as her Hollywood forays, including her Oscar winning role in "Michael Clayton" and the "Chronicles of Narnia" series.
It's worth noting the mixed blessing of an Oscar win for any number of female actors, particularly in the supporting category. Some, like Cate Blanchett, Marcia Gay Harden, and Rachel Weisz, juggle stage work to impressive results, while others like Mira Sorvino dwindle into minor turns in forgettable films. Thus it is all the more notable that Swinton has carved out an impressive, acclaimed career in a range of films that have met with accolades and consistently solid reviews for her work.
In "Kevin", she is never less than engrossing as a married writer with a son whose anti-social behavior troubles her from the start. John C. Reilly is well cast as her kindly but ineffectual husband who refuses to consider the implications of his son's destructive behavior on his family, particularly his wife. What elevates the film from realistic psychological drama is the dazzling visual imagery of director Lynne Ramsay. She takes what could have been a horror film and turned it into a psychological study with experimental motifs, including elliptical editing, abstract images, and an otherwise non-linear narrative.
With a combination of powerful story and remarkable acting, Ramsay only bolsters the impact of her disturbing film with her experimental visual style. Were these acting and writing components lacking, the film would likely come off as an arty horror film, but in Ramsay's assured hands, "Kevin" is both visually arresting and emotionally captivating. As engrossing as Swinton is as the heart of the story, the discovery of the film is Ezra Miller as the titular character. His notable physical resemblance helps tether him to Swinton, and his similarly intense demeanor only seals the deal.
Were "Kevin" a more accessible film, it is likely the critical accolades Swinton has received for her visceral work would have likely translated into an Oscar nomination. What distinguishes the British Swinton from some of her American peers is the sense that the awards and frequently lucrative US film roles may be appealing, but are merely one piece of her distinctive career puzzle. Her unpredictability is but one facet of her considerable appeal, not to mention an original approach to a professional trajectory that seems designed to help her build a sturdy, enviable career.
Were "Kevin" a more accessible film, it is likely the critical accolades Swinton has received for her visceral work would have likely translated into an Oscar nomination. What distinguishes the British Swinton from some of her American peers is the sense that the awards and frequently lucrative US film roles may be appealing, but are merely one piece of her distinctive career puzzle. Her unpredictability is but one facet of her considerable appeal, not to mention an original approach to a professional trajectory that seems designed to help her build a sturdy, enviable career.
No comments:
Post a Comment