Tilda Swintonneeds no introduction. Over her illustrious decades-long career, she has enjoyed both universally adored and controversial career decisions, notable for her immense contributions to the entertainment industry with films such asWe Need To Talk About Kevin,Moonrise Kingdom,and TheChronicles Of Narniafilm adaptations.
Critics have long cherished Swinton for her “strikingly eclectic” slew of roles, enriching the film-watching experience with her remarkable talent and courageous approach to the plenty of films she has worked on.
While Swinton is far from forgotten, a film career as extensive as hers is bound to have underrated masterpieces. Starting her career in the independent world and taking on roles for films considered to be avant-garde, there is a wide selection of projects to highlight. Never mind the additional roles she took on following her crossover into the mainstream. Embarking on a concise overview of her career, here are some of Tilda Swinton’s most underrated contributions to film.
10Adaptation
Adaptation, the 2002 comedy directed by Spike Jonze, finds Swinton alongside Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, and Chris Cooper in a film that follows the real-life events of film writer Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother Donald.
Experiencing writer’s block while tasked with adapting “The Orchid Thief” for a screenplay, the self-loathing protagonist and his brother (Cage) both have distinct viewpoints on screenwriting however are willing to cooperate to alleviate Charlie of his writer’s block. An entertaining concoction of drama, action, and comedy,Adaptationwas a critical success, earning Chris Cooper an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Tilda Swinton portrays Valerie Thomas, Charlie’s employer who instructs him to adapt “The Orchid Thief”. Her appearances are one of many that accentuate the fluidity of the film’s universe. Ebbing and flowing between reality and the imaginary, Swinton commits to the role, offering a minor but mighty contribution to the film. 0000000
The Eric Zonca crime thrillermay have opened to little fanfare, butJuliais one of Tilda Swinton’s most engaging films. Released in 2008,Juliafollows a woman’s extortion plot by the use of a young child.
Introduced to audiences as a morally ambiguous woman dealing with alcoholism, Julia finds herself in random homes with little to no memory of the events before her awakening. During an AA meeting, she comes across Elena who proposes that the two plot to kidnap her son back from his affluent grandfather. The thrilling, transnational adventure finds Julia and young Tom (Aidan Gould) in a series of rather harrowing experiences that expose them to the threats of kidnappers and police officers alike.
Juliadebuted to critical acclaim, especially among European critics who found the film exceptionally “stylish” with Swinton in particular being hailed as a memorable protagonist.
8The Souvenir
One of the few semi-autobiographical selections,The Souvenirand its 2021 sequel largely owe its plots todirector Joanna Hogg’s college experience. Alongside Luke Schiller, Hogg creates a riveting coming-of-age drama like none other. The film follows Julie, a young film student that initially documents the life of a Sunderland family. That is until she meets Anthony, a much older man who becomes her new roommate.
Throughout the film, Julie’s expectations and overall perception of Anthony are juxtaposed with the apprehensive audience. For instance, Anthony is much older than Julie however the age difference does not stop them from bonding over art. Both Julie and the audience are exposed to some of Anthony’s more troubling traits. While the film handles his situation with care, it also excels in depicting just how unhealthy their dynamic is for them.
Swinton portrays Rosalind, Julie’s mother who provides her with the finances necessary to study film safely. Despite, their close relationship, Her presence is an imperative creative decision to highlight Julie’s lack of discernment when dealing with Anthony. Nevertheless, Swinton provides an enamoring portrayal that contributes to the overall enjoyment of the films.
7Only Lovers Left Alive
Only Lovers Left Alivesees Tilda Swinton alongside Tom Hiddleston, of Marvel fame, in a fantasy dramedy centered around two ancient vampires and their romance. Unlike the brooding vampires seen in other franchises, Adam (Hiddleston) and Eve (Swinton) used their immortality to enjoy life to its fullest and enable the rise of influential artists and scientists.
Adam and Eve have been married for centuries and yet, live completely distinct lives. Adam, a musician based in Detroit, suffers from suicide ideation due to the constant fear of being recognized and the additional stress it provides to his already complicated relationship with the arts. On the contrary, Eve has secluded herself in a lovely abode in Tangiers, surrounded by literature, that is until she is alerted about Adam’s depression. To alleviate Adam of his despair, the two prowl the street of Detroit in search of genuine amusement. Their delightful nights are soon interrupted by a visit from Eve’s younger sister Ava, a Los Angeles-based vampire that lacks the same restraint that allowed Adam and Eve to survive and thrive throughout the centuries.
Related:These Are the 9 Best Tilda Swinton Movies, Ranked
Hiddleston and Swinton’s chemistry is a breath of fresh air, void of the typical, troubling tropes in media surrounding romantic relationships among vampires. Additionally, both Swinton and Hiddleston’s foray into traditional tropes doesn’t read as cliché nor forced but rather authentic, as both actors effectively slip into their roles and execute some of the most entertaining performances of the 2010s.
6Burn After Reading
The Coen Brothers' 2008 black comedy is remembered fondly as an amusing exploration into a recently unemployed CIA analyst missing memoirs and two gullible gym employees who believe that they have come across classified documents.
Burn After Readingopens with the disgruntled Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich) who decides to draft a memoir following his deteriorating marriage to Katie (Tilda Swinton) and a devastating fallout with his employers due to his alcoholism. After splitting from Osbourne, Katie returns his document and files, inadvertently submitting an early iteration of Osbourne’s memoir.
After an assistant’s mishaps, two gym employees find the memoir and believe it to be classified information. The revelation prompts them to try and bargain for financial compensation which quickly devolves into a poorly planned blackmail attempt.
It should be no surprise that Swinton fits perfectly among revered industry veterans such as George Clooney, Frances McDormand, and John Malkovich. Swinton as Katie is a loathing woman at the center, constantly disparaging Osbourne’s attempts of being an author. Furthermore, audiences learn of her unsettling affair with Harry which. Not only is it one of Swinton’s most underrated films but also is widely consideredthe Coen Brothers’ most underrated film.
5Michael Clayton
Prior to their time spent filmingBurn After Reading, Swinton, and Clooney provide their talents to the 2007 filmMichael Clayton.In his directorial debut, Tony Gilroy introduces the titular fixer (Clooney), who finds himself in grave danger after unveiling a coverup involving dangerous agrochemicals. The legal thriller finds Clayton at the heart of a conspiracy, with the chemical company directing all of its efforts toward intimidating him.
Swinton portrays Karen Crowder, a counsel at U-North, the company responsible for the carcinogenic chemicals on the market. After finding out that one of the lawyers has documented proof of U-North’s crimes, she soon orchestrates a series of assassination attempts to protect the company’s image and interests.
The film received universal acclaim, earning multiple award nominations and wins, including Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards for Swinton’s contributions. Noted for her cold and callous disposition, many critics hailed Swinton as the clear standout.
4Thumbsucker
Based on the 1999 Walter Kirn novel of the same name, Mike Mill’s directorial debut followed protagonist Justin Cobb (Lou Taylor Pucci), a seventeen-year-old who deals with a notable thumb-sucking habit. The film follows Justin’s attempts at finding love, coping with ADHD, and his experiences with Ritalin. He typically refers to his parents by their first names Mike (Vincent D’Onofrio) and Audrey (Tilda Swinton), the former of whom disapproves of Justin’s thumb-sucking while the latter has a comical crushon fictional actor Matt Schramm(Benjamin Bratt).
An independent production, the film received generally favorable reviews, being lauded as one of the more distinguishable coming-of-age films. While contemporary audiences are familiar with Swinton’s villainous roles or her involvement in period dramas,Thumbsuckeroffers avid fans Swinton’s equally strong grasp on comedy.
One of the more distinctive engaging period dramas,Orlandorevives Virginia Woolf’s novel of the same name. Alongside Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, and Quentin Crisp contribute to the beloved period piece that explores androgyny and pushes back against archaic gender norms while set in the Elizabethan period.
The film follows an androgynous noble named Orlando (Tilda Swinton) who receives a gift and a consequential caveat from the Queen herself (Quentin Crisp). With an opportunity for a fortunate ascent to greater status and financial security, Orlando is tasked with a peculiar pledge: “Do not fade. Do not wither. Do not grow old.”
Related:Tilda Swinton’s Best Period Drama Movies, Ranked
The film finds Orlando traveling from the comfort of England to Constantinople where diplomatic tensions threaten to take his life. It is then that a startling event takes hold and forever alters Orlando’s life.
Following the film’s release, Swinton received a fair share of positive and negative reviews. However, retrospective reviews have praised the film and Swinton, especially forher exceptional portrayal as the god-like protagonist.
2The Personal History of David Copperfield
The Personal History of David Copperfieldtakes viewers on an exciting reimagination of the famous fictional writer’s life. With the talented Dev Patel leading the film alongside Daisy May Cooper (Raindogs)and Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who),Armando Iannucci’s remake of Charles Dicken’s tale proves to be a successful addition to the latter writer’s universe.
As the title suggests, the film follows David Copperfield (Patel) from his birth well into adulthood. Much like the book discloses, his formative years in frightening factories, an unhealthy household, and a scarring school experience before further developing his skill for writing into a full-fledged career path. The film debuted to immensely positive reviews, with critics and consumers alike commending the cast and crew for capturing the timeless nature of one of Dickens' most seminal works.
Swinton was tapped for and excels in, the role of Betsey Trotwood, David’s great aunt whose initially known for her disdain of men and boys but soon becomes an influential figure in David’s life when she takes over as his caretaker and provides him with a reliable source of education and fruitful career opportunities.
1Three Thousand Years of Longing
Billed as the “anti-Mad Max” by director George Miller,Three Thousand Years Of Longingbrings “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye” to the big screen. Tilda Swinton stars as Alithea Binnie, a British scholar who commonly suffers from bouts of hallucinations. When in Istanbul, she discovers an antique that holds a djinn (Idris Elba) inside. After freeing the djinn, the two share a series of stories from their past, each with their respective pain and aspirations laid out for the audience to receive.
While Swinton excels in any genre she attempts to explore, fantasy romances seem to be a sweet spot. The combination of genres offers actors and audiences alike a world where authentic displays of love leave audiences enamored with the finalized result, especially with additional fantastical elements that highlight the universality of romance and companionship.
