Tilda Swinton as Karen Crowder in Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actress at the 80th Annual Oscars (2007)

Notable Quote:

“When you really are enjoying what it is you do, who needs balance?”

Synopsis:

Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is a lawyer investigating a case that seems complicated but boils down to “a company knowingly did something shitty for money”. Tilda Swinton stars as Karen, the company’s evil lawyer. Too many lawyers in this movie!

The character:

Karen Crowder is an unconventional villain. As the general counsel for a shady chemical company, you might expect her to be bitchy and slick, but in actuality, she’s sweaty and awkward. Karen rivals the main character of Blue Jasmine for being the most nervous person alive. Her job is all about projecting confidence, but whenever we see her behind the scenes, whether she’s rehearsing a speech, or talking on the phone, she’s a babbling mess. When things go wrong, she’s hiding in the bathroom, having a panic attack. Honestly, she’s embarrassing, and that makes her a really unique antagonist.

I especially love Karen, because she’s a great example of real life villainy. Evil isn’t cackling maniacally and kicking puppies: it’s being spineless, and sacrificing your morality in order to cover your own ass. It’s fitting that Karen is brought down by the discovery of a memorandum that details deadly impact of the company’s product, because she’s the living embodiment of such a document: she’s tedious and jargon-filled, but underlying that jargon is a willingness to literally kill in order to up profits.

The performance:

Michael Clayton is an incredibly straightlaced movie, so it’s really nice to have oddball Tilda Swinton, who brings a delightful off-kilter energy, even to the most conventional films. I do have to say that in her oeuvre, this isn’t necessarily the standout performance – but she’s always so good that I don’t mind.

Swinton’s biggest strength in this role is her portrayal of Karen’s intense nervousness, which she inhabits with her entire body. Swinton makes Karen into such a weirdo, with all kinds of little tics and strange mouth movements, and she’s always got the perfect “I’m about to throw up” face. I also love Swinton’s crisp way of speaking, which is exactly the right fit for Karen, who is incredibly robotic and scripted. It’s just a really nice performance.

The movie:

Sigh. So I don’t even hate this movie, but good lord, the pacing is ridiculous. It’s a legal thriller without much in the way of thrills. Literally, halfway through the film, I said, okay, this is where I would’ve started this thing off. It’s a lot of set-up, and complicated legal jargon, even though the actual plot actually isn’t complex at all. If you want a fun watch about a corrupt company covering up shady practices, just watch Erin Brockovich. It’s also a very self-serious film. With all that being said, it’s still a fairly entertaining watch, and there are some great moments that really make it worth it (especially Michael finally confronting Karen).

Was the Oscar deserved?

Yep, it’s not a top Tilda performance, but it’s still a very good one.