Being Julia (2004)

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Set in the late 1930s, this is a fine costume comedy-drama about the sorrows and joys of art. The eternal question of "when am I acting and when am I myself?" has seldom been addressed as intelligently as it is here; Bening seems to be not only tangling with her own status as an aging beauty, but also with the limits of her own acting abilities, and it's a pleasure to see her transcend both with such triumphant exuberance. Bravo, Miss Bening, and kudos to director Szabó (MEPHISTO) for rendering his obvious love of theater, cinema, and actors with such contagious warmth. Other fine performances include Jeremy Irons as Julia's manager/husband and Juliet Stevens as her jaded

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Related Movies: version of Julia, Du bist zauberhaft (1962)

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External Reviews

''Being Julia,'' the new backstage romance from Istvan Szabo, is a flimsy frame surrounding a brightly colored performance by Annette Bening, whose quick, high-spirited charm is on marvelous display.

Because I so enjoyed the last 45 minutes, I'm tempted to recommend it. The problem is that you have to sit through an hour to get to the worthwhile parts. And, during the interminable setup, the only bright spots are Bening and occasional snippets of witty dialogue. 

--James Berardinelli (ReelViews)

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Annette Bening plays a great actress in Istvan Szabo's resolute charmer -- and proves she is one, too.

--Stephanie Zacharek (Salon)

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Bromides all, those three sturdy banalities nevertheless form the foundation of the wondrous "Being Julia," which may lack originality but makes up for it in sheer bravado and really nice clothes.

--Stephen Hunter (Washington Post)

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This Julia's worth that investment. Instead of being a tiresome diva, she's surprisingly affecting and fragile. And when it does come to vamping it up, her final act is a treat worth waiting for.

--Desson Thomson (Washington Post)

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Being Julia could end up being another Oscar vehicle for Benning. I’m not sure if it will receive nation-wide audience acceptance (as it should), and most will view it as what Frida was for Salma Hayek. ... This is definitely a diamond in a fairly poor movie going year. 8/10

--Tom Blain (JackassCritics.com)

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The story of Being Julia is delightful, if not too conceited and self-indulgent for its own good. In a business such as Julia's, the world can be a stage upon which life becomes an act. 8/10

--'Le Apprenti' (Movie-Vault.com)

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Kudos and bouquets to all but most especially to Bening for a delectably meaty job of saucing up the drama and for an inimitable screen presence that can only be faulted for not showing up as often on our screens as her talent would justify, if not demand. Bravisima! 

--Jules Brenner (FilmCritic.com)

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By the attention that this film has been recieving at recent festivals it can be assumed we are getting some kind of Oscar-worthy classic modern masterpiece, but rather it is a fun and likable comedy about the stage life that is (sadly) long, long gone. 

--Jason Whyte (eFilmCritic.com)

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Cast

Michael Gambon Sleepy Hollow, The Insider, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou Annette Bening American Beauty, Mars Attacks!, The American President Jeremy Irons The Lion King, Kingdom of Heaven, Die Hard: With a Vengeance Miriam Margolyes Romeo + Juliet, End of Days, Babe Bruce Greenwood I, Robot, Double Jeopardy, Thirteen Days Leigh Lawson Tess, Casanova, Fratello sole, sorella luna Shaun Evans The Boys from County Clare, Cashback, Middle of Nowhere [more]

Music By

Mychael Danna 8MM, Girl, Interrupted, The Ice Storm

"Being Julia" is a perfect vehicle at this stage of Annette Bening's intermittent career.  --Jami Bernard (New York Daily News) Enjoyable drama with a distinctly spiteful edge to it, enlivened by a terrific central performance from Annette Bening and some strong support.  --Matthew Turner (ViewLondon) 'BEING Julia" is a pleasantly diverting period romp that Annette Bening turns into a wickedly funny tour de force.  --Megan Lehmann (New York Post) Bening's comic gifts make the most of Ronald Harwood's witty screenplay, though she falls flat in her character's rare moments of sincerity. --Leslie Camhi (VillageVoice)