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Being Julia
2004
Set in '30s London, the film involves stage actors and their experiences with love and revenge. Read more
| Starring | Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons, Juliet Stevenson, Miriam Margolyes |
|---|---|
| Director | István Szabó |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
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Being Julia
Set in '30s London, the film involves stage actors and their experiences with love and revenge.
| Starring | Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons, Juliet Stevenson, Miriam Margolyes, Bruce Greenwood |
|---|---|
| Director | István Szabó |
| Studio | COLUMBIA TRI-STAR HOME VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 40 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Audio Descriptive, Drama |
| Language | DVD: English, English Audio Description |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English, Hindi |
| Released | DVD: 10 Dec 2007 Production year: 2004 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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The glamour and superficiality surrounding the London theatre scene of the 1930s is brought to life in István Szabó's stylish comedy drama. Based on a W Somerset Maugham novella, it's an atmospheric tale of impetuous love and calculating revenge. An effervescent Annette Bening is the 40-something stage actress and society queen, who begins a turbulent affair with a gold-digging young American (Shaun Evans). Initially energised by their illicit meetings, the married diva is increasingly pained by Evans's playboy ways, particularly his relationship with a beautiful acting hopeful (Lucy Punch). This character-driven piece benefits from solid performances and a sharply amusing script. Although Bening occasionally overplays her role, she's no less appealing for it, while Michael Gambon is fabulous as her ghostly mentor. The film may be too affected for modern tastes, but it does delightfully convey the charms and idiosyncrasies of inter-war luvviedom.
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As her stage diva character Julia would have it, this comedy drama revolves around Annette Benings stunning... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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59 out of 62 people found this review helpful
You won't get bored
You don't have to be a fan of Annette Bening (or Jeremy Irons) to enjoy this high-spirited tale of theatrical life - or rather, Julia Lambert's life, to be specific.
Based on a novella by my one of my all-time favorite authors, W. Somerset Maugham, Being Julia is sort of like All About Eve, except not as stage-y. It's a period piece, taking place in England in the '30s, where burnt-out Diva Extraordinaire Julia Lambert is moaning and groaning about her tedious, boring life to anyone who will listen, including her weathered and weary husband (Irons, drolly pipe-puffing his way through the film as only he could). She meets a young, handsome, American fan/opportunist (Shaun Evans, highly effective) and together they rekindle Julia's lust for life.
This is just the first half hour - it gets better and more and more outrageous (and of course more FUN) as it goes on. Needless to say, you won't be bored; in fact, I left the theater smiling and shaking my head. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Pleasant English Chocolate-Box Period Drama
It's a pleasant film, surviving only by way of its glitter. Indeed it's about egocentric actors/actresses and in this case egocentrism largely wins the day. It's foppery but it's fun, but it's totally inconsequential. Good budget, fine preparation, good acting, well-edited. This is just the film to show at the old-age pensioners' Christmas Party. They'll love it.
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News and features
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