In Contention

I am Tilda

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Has any actor in recent years put an Oscar to quite such good use as Tilda Swinton? I admit I wasn’t quite behind her win two years ago for “Michael Clayton,” but I’ve enjoyed watching how, after two decades as a kind of alien fringe goddess, she’s recently morphed into a movie star of sorts — still reassuringly batty in her decisions but now capable of propelling a foreign-language arthouse curio like “I Am Love” to healthy box-office returns in the UK. (The film hits US theaters in June.)

It’s interesting, then, to see an array of lustrous poster designs for the film all playing on the “Tilda Swinton, movie star” meme, placing her front, center and glammed-up to the hilt. Take this unused concept from UK designers All City:

Meanwhile, the following selection of designs are similarly besotted with the star, and similarly gorgeous in themselves. I’m still not as sold on the film as everyone else — though it contains some of the actress’s finest work — but it sure has fired designers’ imaginations.

The final UK one-sheet (courtesy again of All City):

On the left, the first poster for the film that appeared at Venice literally obscures everyone but the star; on the right, another fun All City concept that plays on the film’s nods to 1960s Italian masters:

Saving the best for last, meanwhile, we come to this trio of (sadly unused) posters from UK designer Sam Ashby, which all but casts Swinton as a latter-day Hitchcock blonde:

US poster designers, the floor is yours.

Comments

16 responses to “I am Tilda”

  1. MattyD Avatar
    MattyD

    Those posters featuring just The Swinton are stunningly beautiful. I want a room in my house with just those on the wall.

  2. Nathaniel Rogers Avatar

    This movie — which is utterly gorgeous — deserves posters as beautiful as this. I wonder how dull they’ll make the American poster? Or if they’ll just use the original with the family and the swoopy type.

  3. Guy Lodge Avatar

    My money’s on floating heads.

  4. Matthew Starr Avatar

    I thought Tilda was the clear winner in 2007 and I did love both Amy Ryan and Soairse Ronan’s work as well.

  5. Guy Lodge Avatar

    I was — and still am — a Blanchett man. Different league, I think.

  6. Matthew Starr Avatar

    Hmm I forgot about I’m Not There. I did not like that film but Cate was definitely excellent.

  7. Meli Avatar
    Meli

    Gorgeous. Amazing. Perfection. And shoulda been nominated for Julia.

  8. BurmaShave Avatar
    BurmaShave

    This just played locally over the weekend as part of the D.C. Film Festival. Kind of kicking myself for missing it.

  9. red_wine Avatar
    red_wine

    Is this the best she has ever looked? I think so. She had a strange oddball attraction for some people but she was never traditionally “Hollywood” beautiful. Here she looks like a great movie star from the 60’s.

  10. Fitz Avatar

    Even in that strong year for Supporting Actress I think Blanchett deserved it more.

    I mean Blanchett WAS Dylan in that film, she owned that character.

  11. Patryk Avatar
    Patryk

    My most anticipated film of 2010. Can we start a grass-roots campaign now?

  12. Robert Hamer Avatar
    Robert Hamer

    I still can’t get over the fact that she has an Oscar. I mean, seriously, weirdo androgynous indie goddess Tilda Swinton, an Academy Award winner?!? It’s just so awesome, even if some don’t quite agree with what she specifically won it for.

  13. Guy Lodge Avatar
    Guy Lodge

    Red_Wine: Wait until you see the film — it’s a complete valentine to her, as infatuated a star vehicle as we’ve seen in years.

    Patryk: Don’t bother. They didn’t see “Julia,” and that was in English. What chance does this one have? ;)

    Hamer: I agree — I love that she has one. Plus, I kind of swap it out for “Julia” in my mind, and when I factor in that Blanchett won hers for the wrong film too, it all evens out.

  14. Jim T Avatar

    I am Tilda
    Posted by Guy Lodge

    I’m really happy you turned out to be Tilda (who is that blonde guy by the way?). I have enjoyed your articles here a lot but you really didn’t help your movie with that review. You did praise your performance, though. :p

  15. R. Kurt Osenlund Avatar

    Mmmm…I feel drunk.

  16. greg Avatar
    greg

    that last pic is just beautiful. I wanna poster of it. The artisty that this film seems to be pulling for has already one me over. cannot wait.