I Am Love is a film that, yet again, showcases a fearless, go-for-broke performance from Tilda Swinton, who is easily one of my favorite actresses currently working. And if you’ve ever wanted to hear he speak fluent Italian with a Russian accent, this film is for you! I Am Love is a sensual, sexual, lyrical piece of filmmaking from Italian director Luca Guadagnino, who in tandem with the brilliant cinematographer Yorick Le Saux conjured up a dreamy, tremendously stylized motion picture that literally feels like a living, breathing entity. Conceived over an 11 year period by Swinton and Guadagnino, the film is all about how unbridled passion can get in the way of almost anything and everything, and how the primal instincts that run through our bones, heart, and lower regions can sometimes not be contained, no matter how hard one tries. Music from the classical composer John Adams fills the background, giving off a rarefied vibe, while Swinton plows through the juicy narrative with so much force and command that it’s impossible not to be mesmerized by her every move. Antonella Cannarozzi’s costumes are spectacular, feeding into the overly-moneyed thematic subtext, and while the film certainly dips into melodrama, Guadagnino isn’t content to let anyone off easy, while also imbuing his film with tips to The Godfather. As with any story that is propelled by a torrid affair, there’s real heat in this film, and Swinton, ever the chameleonic artist, slips into her tricky role with so much elegance that you just can’t help but be blown away by her natural sense as an actress.
Podcasting Them Softly 