There are those who go to the movies for escapism — to see superhumans who surpass us in power, beauty, even morality. But I have a soft spot for flawed characters whose strengths and weaknesses both stem from that which makes them flawed.

Swinton’s Julia is the kind of deplorable mess who demands the patience of a saint to understand or care for. Apart from the alcoholic blackouts and promiscuity, she is a compulsive liar. Even when she has no need to lie or manipulate, she is weaving stories, putting on a false face for no reason other than she just can’t help herself. For Julia to earn the viewer’s sympathy or compassion is a tall order. And yet somehow she does, with each glimpse we get of her behind her lies, through the choices she makes at every intersection.

Swinton is riveting to watch in a role unlike anything she’s ever played before. Without her, this film would have crashed and burned. I don’t know how the writing compares to Cassavetes’ “Gloria” (hope to see it soon), but I found the screenplay to be exceptional, culminating in the devastatingly honest conversation between Julia and Mitch (Saul Rubinek is also at his best here) at the airport. While there’s a certain inevitability to the ending, the raw, emotional power of Julia’s ultimate choice still knocked my breath away. Amazing, amazing film.