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Editorial Reviews
Academy Award®-winner Tilda Swinton plays Julia, an alcoholic who, between shots of vodka and one-night stands, gets by on nickel-and-dime jobs. Increasingly lonely, her alcohol-induced confusion daily reinforces her sense that life has dealt her a losing hand. Seeing a financial opportunity after encountering a woman estranged from her son, Julia throws herself into a criminal plot that escalates beyond anything she ever imagined.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If Tilda Swinton does not get an Oscar nomination for JULIA, there is no justice, because she delivers one of the most remarkable performances that I've ever seen. She is, indeed, one of the finest actresses of her generation.
Swinton plays an out-of-control alcoholic, subject to blackouts, who lies constantly. Nothing that ever comes out of her mouth is the truth.
Desperately needing money, she devises a not-to-well-thought-out plot to kidnap the 8-year-old grandson of an ultra wealthy gent whose estranged, emotionally disturbed mother she met at an AA gathering.
Swinton has no intention of turning the kid over to his mother, but plans to ransom him to the grandfather for two million dollars. Unfortunately for her, Grandpa soon learns her identity and she is forced to flee to Mexico with the boy, who is soon taken from her by some professional kidnappers. Now, Swinton, who has actually become fond of the child, will do everything in her power to get him back.
Erick Zonca directed this riveting thriller, released onto DVD by Magnolia Home Entertainment.
© Michael B Druxman
Swinton plays an out-of-control alcoholic, subject to blackouts, who lies constantly. Nothing that ever comes out of her mouth is the truth.
Desperately needing money, she devises a not-to-well-thought-out plot to kidnap the 8-year-old grandson of an ultra wealthy gent whose estranged, emotionally disturbed mother she met at an AA gathering.
Swinton has no intention of turning the kid over to his mother, but plans to ransom him to the grandfather for two million dollars. Unfortunately for her, Grandpa soon learns her identity and she is forced to flee to Mexico with the boy, who is soon taken from her by some professional kidnappers. Now, Swinton, who has actually become fond of the child, will do everything in her power to get him back.
Erick Zonca directed this riveting thriller, released onto DVD by Magnolia Home Entertainment.
© Michael B Druxman
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By W.Kim
Format:DVD
Tilda Swinton easily carries "Julia," with a tour-de-force performance as an out of control alcoholic that gets way, way in over her head when she agrees to get involved in a hair-brained kidnapping scheme, one that goes very badly awry. For charting the lead character's mad trajectory, the director, Erick Zonka, received a well deserved nomination for a best director, at Berlin and Swinton was nominated for the best actress Caesar, for her performance in this film. Inspired by Cassevette's "Gloria," and definitely worth your time.
58 of 74 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Wow. This is a dazzling performance in an unusual, disturbing and unforgettable film. I was fortunate to see this at a brief theatrical run in San Francisco. I haven't seen the disc but I'll update this review when I do.
Usually, I get the feeling that Ms. Swinton says "I'll do anything!" but that the people who make her films think she'll do EVERYTHING and show up without the ideas, structure or stamina to support her wild excursions into darkness and beyond. This film gives her a meaty role in a difficult story and gives it room to grow. The film is kind of a long shaggy dog story, rather like John Cassavetes directing a Sam Peckinpah film.
This JULIA is a nasty, promiscuous, unemployable black out alcoholic who ends up talked into a kidnapping scheme by the crazy unfit mother who lives in her building. If you think this might be your sort of film, be aware- she doesn't become a saint- or even much nicer- over the playing time. When most American films would be wrapping up, JULIA explodes into a new location, country, style and multiplies in ferocity and violence. Instead of softening into redemption, our heroine meets characters even nastier than she is and is forced to up the stakes.
This is the best female performance I've seen since Mimi Rogers in THE RAPTURE. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I can't wait to see it again.
Usually, I get the feeling that Ms. Swinton says "I'll do anything!" but that the people who make her films think she'll do EVERYTHING and show up without the ideas, structure or stamina to support her wild excursions into darkness and beyond. This film gives her a meaty role in a difficult story and gives it room to grow. The film is kind of a long shaggy dog story, rather like John Cassavetes directing a Sam Peckinpah film.
This JULIA is a nasty, promiscuous, unemployable black out alcoholic who ends up talked into a kidnapping scheme by the crazy unfit mother who lives in her building. If you think this might be your sort of film, be aware- she doesn't become a saint- or even much nicer- over the playing time. When most American films would be wrapping up, JULIA explodes into a new location, country, style and multiplies in ferocity and violence. Instead of softening into redemption, our heroine meets characters even nastier than she is and is forced to up the stakes.
This is the best female performance I've seen since Mimi Rogers in THE RAPTURE. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I can't wait to see it again.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riveting film making! A+
This was by far one of the most riveting films I have seen in 20 years. Mind you I didn't even know who Tilda Swinton was. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Natja Kristy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tilda Swinton is just phenomenal!!!
I absolutely liked Julia.... It's intense, thrilling and captivating. Tilda Swinton just immersed herself and a truly Oscar-caliber performance. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Opaque
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tilda oudoes herself
There were times I laughed aloud with delight on how well Tilda played a broken down, muddle headed felon. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lynn Foxx
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sorta long
I am a big fan of Tilda Swinton and she is excellent in this but the storyline gets a bit convoluted. I give the star three stars.
Published 3 months ago by Michael
1.0 out of 5 stars
Sickening child treatment
The film started out giving me some mild interest due to the craziness of Julia's life and what alcoholism can do to you. Read more
Published 9 months ago by ajsteele
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of a kind
Seeing Tilda Swinton play this type of character was good to watch I didn't think she could pull off such an emotional role but she did it with great quality.. Read more
Published 10 months ago by mimi
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nervewracking
This sort of thing has been done before: A woman is in charge of a child under extreme circumstances. This is one of the better ones and it really made me nervous to watch. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Eric Sanberg
5.0 out of 5 stars
Riviting....
Keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Great performances and fine story line. Nay-sayers need to come down out of the clouds.
Published 14 months ago by Gitasgod
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Performance
What an acting performance by Tilda Swinton! Very convincing as an out-of-control alcoholic, and done with a perfect American accent, no less. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Doug Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Acting as good as it gets
Whoever said that movies were a form of escapism? Tilda Swinton takes us into the heart of hell with this amazing performance. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Paulette O.
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