Being Julia (2004)

Set in '30s London, the film involves stage actors and their experiences with love and revenge.

Director:

István Szabó

Writers:

W. Somerset Maugham (novel), Ronald Harwood (screenplay)

Stars:

Annette Bening, Michael Gambon, Maury Chaykin

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Gambon	...	Jimmie Langton
Annette Bening	...	Julia Lambert
Leigh Lawson	...	Archie Dexter
Shaun Evans	...	Tom Fennel
Mari Kiss	...	Mr. Gosselyn's Secretary
Jeremy Irons	...	Michael Gosselyn
Ronald Markham	...	Butler
Terry Sach	...	Chauffeur
Catherine Charlton	...	Miss Philips
Juliet Stevenson	...	Evie
Miriam Margolyes	...	Dolly de Vries
Max Irons	...	Curtain Call Boy
Andrew Paton Story Busher	...	Male Singer
George Lang	...	Antoine the Maitre D
Michael Culkin	...	Rupert

Storyline

1938. Julia Lambert and Michael Gosselyn are the royal couple of the London theater scene, Julia an actress and Michael a former actor who took over running the theater and its troupe upon the passing of their mentor, Jimmie Langton. Jimmie is still constantly with Julia in spirit as she navigates through life. Besides their work, Julia and Michael lead largely separate lives, they long ago having stopped a sexual relationship. Julia of late has been feeling disenchanted with her life, she not wanting to admit it's because she is approaching middle age. Her disenchantment manifests itself in wanting Michael to close their current production early so that she can recharge her juices, something he is reluctant to do if only for not wanting to let the theater sit empty. What Julia ends up doing instead is embarking on an affair with Tom Fennel, an adoring young American who is young enough to be her son. As Julia and Tom's relationship progresses, the more she falls in love with him and ...

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Plot Keywords:

open marriage | infidelity | unfaithfulness | adultery | revenge | 

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Taglines:

Passion. Obsession. Revenge. Prepare for the performance of a lifetime.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics [United States]

Country:

Canada USA Hungary UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 February 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Adorable Julia

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$122,214, 17 October 2004

Gross USA:

$7,739,049

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,339,171

Company Credits

Production Co:

Serendipity Point Films, First Choice Films, Hogarth Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Miranda Richardson was originally attached to play Julia Lambert.

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Goofs

Tom tells Julia that Michael has given him a box for the opening of the new play. When we see Tom after Julia makes an obvious reference to him by saying, "B-E-N," he is seated not in a box but in the orchestra section, next to Julia's son and in front of Julia's male friend.

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Quotes

Florence: I think I used to know your father in Jersey, he was a doctor, wasn't he? He used to come to our house quite often.
Julia Lambert: Actually, he was a vet, he used to go to your house to deliver the bitches. Your house was full of them.

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Connections

Featured in The 77th Annual Academy Awards (2005)

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Soundtracks

I Get a Kick out of You
Written by Cole Porter
(c) Warner Bros. Inc.
Performed by Henry Hall and The BBC Dance Orchestra
Licensed courtesy of EMI Records Ltd.

User Reviews

A One Woman Show, if not a one woman actor's workshop.

I approached this film strictly by way of word of mouth. Reviews and blurbs went over my head. I haven't read Maughm (sp?) in years and forgot what I may have read. I went into the theater with a clean slate. Ms.Benning displays an awesome range of technique, but that doesn't describe her or the film. She was able to draw me within her to sense her triumphs and doubts, and challenges, all of which appeared and felt quite real to me.

In the hands of others this picture might easily have fallen into soap, surely with its "come-upance" finale, all quite expected and predictable, I thought. Still, having said that I was totally absorbed by Ms Benning and her surrounding players all of whom added to the vitality of her performance without negating or diluting their own. I am not an actor yet I felt I understood the lessons she was displaying and the courage to so open herself in such a revealing way.

She is the film, with respect to the director and writer, and the film is her, not a great film, but one worth while seeing on its own, but more so for the opportunity of truly witnessing great craft and talent.