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Being Julia

R Released Oct 15, 2004 1h 44m Comedy Drama List
77% Tomatometer 124 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Julia Lambert (Annette Bening) is a popular but aging stage actress who is losing passion for her career. Her husband and director, Michael Gosselyn (Jeremy Irons), introduces her to a young American actor, Tom (Shaun Evans), who professes admiration for her. Julia and Tom start an affair, but soon she realizes that Tom is just using her to advance his own career and that of his other girlfriend, actress Avice Crichton (Lucy Punch). Julia befriends Avice, all the while plotting her revenge.
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Being Julia

Being Julia

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Critics Consensus

Annette Bening delivers a captivating performance in Being Julia, a sophisticated comedy that follows a 1930s stage diva who experiences an identity crisis at age 40.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Annette Bening is great, but this isn't for kids. Rated: 4/5 Oct 14, 2010 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Benning ... brings this constantly disguised vixen to ferocious, flamboyant life. Rated: C May 3, 2005 Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review Rated: 2/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Kam Williams Princeton Town Topics A beguiling romance about an aging actress at the peak of her career who embarks on an ill-advised, illicit affair with an admirer half her age. Rated: 3/4 Feb 17, 2007 Full Review Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com Annette Bening is the movie; her performance ... is the kind that will pop up on "best of" lists for years to come. Rated: 4/4 Oct 22, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ron R The astonishing performance of Ms Benning is captivating and worthy of watching just for her. Outstanding! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/07/24 Full Review Uynga U Young Annet Benning is so beautiful Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/24/24 Full Review Bahad j I am very happy that the movie shows us the steps and choices that are necessary in the life of a great person. I like the movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/24 Full Review Audience Member Such a great movie. I wasn't sure at first but it was sich great acting and a superb unravelling of the plot. I highly recommend this movie. Annette Benning is marvelous. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review steve d I thought it was overacted and boring. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member This was an excellent movie to see. It was very Oscar worthy for Annette Bening to be nominated in this 2004 classic. I would watch this again and again because it's very phenomenal! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Being Julia

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Julia Lambert (Annette Bening) is a popular but aging stage actress who is losing passion for her career. Her husband and director, Michael Gosselyn (Jeremy Irons), introduces her to a young American actor, Tom (Shaun Evans), who professes admiration for her. Julia and Tom start an affair, but soon she realizes that Tom is just using her to advance his own career and that of his other girlfriend, actress Avice Crichton (Lucy Punch). Julia befriends Avice, all the while plotting her revenge.
Director
István Szabó
Producer
Robert Lantos
Screenwriter
Ronald Harwood
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Hogarth Productions, Myriad Pictures, First Choice Films, Serendipity Point Films
Rating
R (Some Sexuality)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 15, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 8, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.7M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround
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