Tilda Swinton works well with Italian director Luca Guadagnino. After the engaging I Am Love (2010), she teams up with him again in the enigmatic A Bigger Splash. The good news is Swinton displays her usual dynamic acting skills. Playing rock star Marianne Land, who is essentially unable to speak as she recovers from throat surgery, Swinton’s mime talents here rival her that of her vampire ones in the immensely enjoyable Only Lovers Left Alive.
The not so good news is despite excellent acting and editing that produces some sterling scenes, the focus of A Bigger Splash is on a character Harry Hawkes (Ralph Fiennes), who, however crazed and charismatic he may be, essentially leaves our interest level in the other characters wanting. Matthias Schoenaerts does his usual quiet man routine as Marianne’s current lover, Paul. Dakota Johnson turns in a spiffy performance as Penelope, a mysterious young femme fatale who is probably Fiennes’ long-estranged daughter. They all, including Swinton, who is marvelous here, do their best to keep up with the insanely intense energy level of Hawkes, who, incidentally is Marianne’s former music producer and lover.
Gorgeous Sicilian scenery and colorful local characters, including corrupt police officers, a matronly ricotta chef, and an earnest if bewildered housekeeper spice things up, as do the occasional nods to celebrity worship. Yet it’s Fiennes’ show to make or break. The versatile actor has never been better.
Harry’s egoism knows no bounds; his charm, no limits. He’s never less than fully believable. Just when the film begins to teeter off into the swampy abstractions seemingly integral to art films of this sort, Fiennes brings it back home time and again. Until even he can’t save this film from drifting off. Similar to the recent Louder Than Bombs, a terrific cast can’t turn a mere good film into something more special. Its thriller and political aspects seem tacked on, a mere setup for the hilarious, ironical last scene.