Being Julia Movie Review 2004

Bening triumphs in the title role as a larger-than-life stage actress suffering a midlife dip. But this delightful diva still has the deviousness to show a couple of whippersnappers what it means to be a star. Swanning about in 1938 London, Julia has a strong support system, led by her unfaithful but loving manager/husband Michael (Irons). However, she's bored and ready for a little fling with Tom (Evans), a fawning young fan with an agenda of his own, involving his ambitious actress girlfriend (Punch). When Julia discovers she's been used, she takes the opportunity not only to get revenge but as a step in revitalizing her life. Based on the novel "Theatre" by W. Somerset Maugham.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on DVD
Running time 105 minutes.
Originally from Hungarian, Canadian, British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

London, Period Piece: 1930s, Books to Film: W. Somerset Maugham, Midlife Crisis, Stagestruck, Showbiz Dramas

Screenplay

Ronald Harwood

Cast

Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons, Bruce Greenwood, Miriam Margolyes, Juliet Stevenson, Shaun Evans, Lucy Punch, Maury Chaykin, Sheila McCarthy, Michael Gambon, Leigh Lawson, Rosemary Harris, Rita Tushingham, Thomas Sturridge

Cinematography

Lajos Koltai

Director

Istvan Szabo

Music

Mychael Danna

Other

Simon Kaye, Liz Gallacher, Susan Shipton, John Bloomfield, Luciana Arrighi

Producer

Robert Lantos, Serendipity Point Films, First Choice Films, Astral Media, Telefilm Canada, Sony Pictures Classics

Awards

Golden Globes 2005: Actress--Mus./Comedy (Bening).