Julia

Tilda Is Terrific!
If Tilda Swinton does not get an Oscar nomination for JULIA, there is no justice, because she delivers one of the most remarkable performances that I've ever seen. She is, indeed, one of the finest actresses of her generation.

Swinton plays an out-of-control alcoholic, subject to blackouts, who lies constantly. Nothing that ever comes out of her mouth is the truth.

Desperately needing money, she devises a not-to-well-thought-out plot to kidnap the 8-year-old grandson of an ultra wealthy gent whose estranged, emotionally disturbed mother she met at an AA gathering.

Swinton has no intention of turning the kid over to his mother, but plans to ransom him to the grandfather for two million dollars. Unfortunately for her, Grandpa soon learns her identity and she is forced to flee to Mexico with the boy, who is soon taken from her by some professional kidnappers. Now, Swinton, who has actually become fond of the child, will do everything in her power to...

Wow.
Tilda Swinton easily carries "Julia," with a tour-de-force performance as an out of control alcoholic that gets way, way in over her head when she agrees to get involved in a hair-brained kidnapping scheme, one that goes very badly awry. For charting the lead character's mad trajectory, the director, Erick Zonka, received a well deserved nomination for a best director, at Berlin and Swinton was nominated for the best actress Caesar, for her performance in this film. Inspired by Cassevette's "Gloria," and definitely worth your time.

Tilda Swinton's career best -so far
Wow. This is a dazzling performance in an unusual, disturbing and unforgettable film. I was fortunate to see this at a brief theatrical run in San Francisco. I haven't seen the disc but I'll update this review when I do.
Usually, I get the feeling that Ms. Swinton says "I'll do anything!" but that the people who make her films think she'll do EVERYTHING and show up without the ideas, structure or stamina to support her wild excursions into darkness and beyond. This film gives her a meaty role in a difficult story and gives it room to grow. The film is kind of a long shaggy dog story, rather like John Cassavetes directing a Sam Peckinpah film.
This JULIA is a nasty, promiscuous, unemployable black out alcoholic who ends up talked into a kidnapping scheme by the crazy unfit mother who lives in her building. If you think this might be your sort of film, be aware- she doesn't become a saint- or even much nicer- over the playing time. When most American films would be wrapping...

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