SummaryJulia, 40, is an alcoholic. She is a manipulative, unreliable, compulsive liar, all strung out beneath her still flamboyant exterior. Between shots of vodka and one-night stands, Julia gets by on nickel-and-dime jobs. Increasingly lonely, the only consideration she receives comes from her friend Mitch, who tries to help her. But she shrugs him of... Read More
Directed By:Erick Zonca
Written By:Roger Bohbot, Michael Collins, Camille Natta, Aude Py, Erick Zonca
Julia
Metascore
Generally Favorable
62
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
57% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
29% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
14% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
100
Tilda Swinton hasn't often been more fascinating than in Julia, a nerve-wracking thriller with a twisty plot and startling realism.
88
Charles Bukowski would have loved this foul-mouthed, fiery, reckless woman. Against all odds and common sense, you will, too.
80
As Julia, Swinton belongs to that league of great cinematic alcoholics such as Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick in "Days of Wine and Roses" and Ray Milland in "The Lost Weekend." As an action character, she naturally evokes Gena Rowlands without ever trying to resemble her.
67
This overlong, lurchy homage to John Cassavetes' 1980 film "Gloria" is a mess, but a fascinating one, given Swinton's desperately avid performance in the title role.
42
Swinton's performance, and practically everything else about Julia, seems off – tone-deaf. She plays an out-of-control wastrel who enters into a kidnapping scheme gone horribly wrong, as does the movie.
40
The miscalculated and overlong Julia proves a startling misfire for "The Dreamlife of Angels" writer-helmer Erick Zonca and dependably fearless actress Tilda Swinton.
20
The end result is like Quentin Tarantino reworking a Charles Bukowski story.
User score
Generally Favorable
64% Positive
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
36% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Jan 8, 2019
9
This film has somehow slipped through the cracks. It is an amazing take on John Cassavetes' 'Gloria' with Gena Rowlands. Despite it's being a loose remake, 'Julia' retains enough originality to be it's own thing, piloted by an exceptional as always Tilda Swinton. This is EASILY one of her best roles, and I surely hope this film, with it's well plotted old-skool thriller feel, rich and unique cinematography, and great human element soars into people's lives one day. As missing 'Julia' is missing a modern near-masterpiece of suspense.
Jul 31, 2022
8
This was a really gripping watch - its a film about double crossing. Tilda Swinton gives a brilliant performance (it's hard to gauge when her character is being truthful or not) and it kept me guessing. The ending is pretty suspenseful. I would definitely recommend this film, yes.
Production Company:
- Les Productions Bagheera
- Le Bureau
- France 3 Cinéma
- uFilm
- StudioCanal
- The 7th Floor
- Saga Film
- Jaibol Films
- Canal+
- France 3
- MEDIA Programme of the European Union
- Motion Investment Group
- Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral Belge
Release Date:May 8, 2009
Duration:2 h 24 m
Rating:R
Awards
Evening Standard British Film Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
National Board of Review, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
International Cinephile Society Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
