Julia

Name: Julia
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: May 8, 2009
Duration: 144 min
Rating: 62

2009

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 22 Ratings

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Julia

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnolia Pictures | Release Date: May 8, 2009 | R

Summary: Julia, 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 shrugsJulia, 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 off, as her alcohol-induced confusion daily reinforces her sense that life has dealt her a losing hand and that she is not to blame for the mess she has made of it. Glimpsing imminent perdition, and after a chance encounter with Elena, a Mexican woman, Julia convinces herself – as much in panic and despair as for financial gain – to commit a violent act. As the story unfolds, Julia's journey becomes a headlong flight on a collision course, but somehow she makes the choice of life over death. (Magnolia Pictures)… Expand

Director: Erick Zonca

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 144 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Roger Ebert

Tilda Swinton hasn't often been more fascinating than in Julia, a nerve-wracking thriller with a twisty plot and startling realism. Read full review

Noel Murray

In tone and plot, Julia often resembles an extended episode of the AMC series "Breaking Bad"--except that Swinton's character is never NOT bad. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Charles Bukowski would have loved this foul-mouthed, fiery, reckless woman. Against all odds and common sense, you will, too. Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

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. Read full review

Scott Foundas

Tilda Swinton doesn't merely act the title role in French director Erick Zonca's Julia--she devours it, spits it back up, dances giddily upon it, twirls it in the air. Read full review

Peter Rainer

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. Read full review

Joe Neumaier

The end result is like Quentin Tarantino reworking a Charles Bukowski story. Read full review

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User Reviews

stepheng

Sep 15, 2009

I was memorized by Swinton's devasting performance from start to finish. Tilda does deserve an Oscar for this!

0 of 1 users found this helpful

JimF

May 13, 2009

For about its first hour, "Julia" is one of the craziest good films I've ever seen, and when the lunatic kidnapping plot is put in motion, I thought perhaps I should be calling 911 to have the director arrested for creating the illusion of child endangerment. But the extremely For about its first hour, "Julia" is one of the craziest good films I've ever seen, and when the lunatic kidnapping plot is put in motion, I thought perhaps I should be calling 911 to have the director arrested for creating the illusion of child endangerment. But the extremely talented, original, and authentic director Eric Zonca, with the great help of a career performance by Tilda Swinton, has something much better and more interesting in mind, a redemptive drama morphed from the shell of a gutsy portrait of addiction that is in every way the movie "Rachel Getting Married" wanted to be but couldn't. "Julia" never for one moment of its almost 2 1/2 hour length plays things safe, but it's a deeply human and satisfying movie all the same.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

BrentA

Jul 22, 2009

There are not enough words to describe the veracity of of Tilda Swinton's performance. She is unmatched in her brilliance. This movie is undoubtedly the best movie of the year, and Tilda Swinton needs an oscar for this role.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

CinemaCrush

Jan 8, 2019

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 herThis 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Jul 31, 2022

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.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JayH

Aug 15, 2009

Tilda Swinton's amazing performance makes the film. She puts so much thought into every role. It's a good story, fine direction and cinematography. It's a very detailed film. One complaint, more should have been cut, it's overlong.

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