RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Julia
Julia

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Julia (2008)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
72 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:47

Fresh:34

Rotten:13

Average Rating:6.3/10

Consensus: Tilda Swinton delivers a powerful performance in Julia, a tense thriller and a dark character study.

Runtime: 2 hrs 25 mins

Genre: Dramas

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: Tilda Swinton stars in this intense drama as Julia, an aging alcoholic who spends her nights drinking in the company of strangers, and her days making excuses for herself. Beginning in a sleek Los... Tilda Swinton stars in this intense drama as Julia, an aging alcoholic who spends her nights drinking in the company of strangers, and her days making excuses for herself. Beginning in a sleek Los Angeles nightclub, the film shows Julia as she would like to be seen, beautiful and intoxicating. But by morning when Julia wakes once again in bed with a man she doesn’t know, the flattering light of evening has worn off, exposing the harsh reality underneath. Julia’s life knows no real friendships and no real meaning. Any shred of normalcy has slowly been eaten away by the constant pull of alcohol, which has replaced all other drives as the guiding force of Julia’s life. When Mitch (Saul Rubinek), her only friend and a recovering alcoholic, pushes her to attend an AA meeting, she meets her neighbor, Elena (Kate del Castillo). From there, Julia finds herself facing unexpected temptation as Elena shares a highly flawed plan to kidnap her own son, Tommy (Aidan Gould), from the wealthy grandfather he is living with. Elena promises money, and Julia can’t resist, embarking on a messy and sadistic journey that goes wrong at every turn and grows more complicated as her relationship with Tommy develops. French Director Eric Zonca provides an ample platform on which his lead can display her many talents. Never shying away from serious, complex roles, Swinton carries the film with her nuanced and heart-wrenching portrayal of an out-of-control drunk. While it can be hard to watch at times, viewers will find themselves sucked in as Julia’s life spins speedily downhill. With her piercing stare and undeniable screen presence, Swinton demands our attention, whether we like it or not. [More]

Starring: Tilda Swinton, Saul Rubinek, Kate Del Castillo, Aidan Gould

Starring: Tilda Swinton, Saul Rubinek, Kate Del Castillo, Aidan Gould, Jude Ciccolella, Bruno Bichir, Horacio Garcia Rojas, Gaston Peterson, Mauricio Moreno, Kevin Kilner, John Bellucci, Ezra Buzzington

Director: Erick Zonca

Director: Erick Zonca
Screenwriter: Aude Py, Erick Zonca
Producer: Francois Marquis, Bertrand Faivre
Studio: Magnolia Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 8

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Julia

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
09/08/09
Pete Hammond
Pete Hammond
Hollywood.com

Charles Bukowski would have loved this foul-mouthed, fiery, reckless woman. Against all odds and common sense, you will, too.

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
08/27/09
Rene Rodriguez
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald

The plot is over-the-top, but Swinton makes you stay with the film long after the writer/director loses credibility.

Full Review Source: CNNRadio | comment Comment
08/18/09
Paul Chambers
Paul Chambers
CNNRadio

I salute the film's bravery for rushing off at full force on its own stream-of-consciousness logic, but for me, I found the final stages perhaps a tad too far-fetched.

Full Review Source: UGO | comment Comment
08/11/09
Jordan Hoffman
Jordan Hoffman
UGO

I recommend going to see it, but don't blame me when you feel like you've downed a fifth of vodka afterwards.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
07/11/09
Beverly Berning
Beverly Berning
culturevulture.net

In a sense, it goes to all the places a sensitive character study might have gone, but more dramatically, convincingly and vividly.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
07/10/09
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle

A nerve-wracking thriller with a twisty plot and startling realism.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
07/03/09
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Swinton is mesmerising as a messed-up drunk.

Full Review Source: Eye for Film | comment Comment
07/02/09
Amber Wilkinson
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film

a tonally-consistent, lively thriller that is very much of the filmmaker's own little corner of the world

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
06/16/09
Chris Cabin
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com

This is not really sure what it wants to be, an out-an-out thriller or a character portrait, but it exels at both in parts.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
05/28/09
William Thomas
William Thomas
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Julia is a mix of fantasy and tragedy, with the violence amped up and the background noisy and lurid.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
05/21/09
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

This is Zonca's second feature. His first, The Dreamlife of Angels, was extraordinary. Rent that one instead.

Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | comment Comment
05/15/09
Peter Rainer
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor

Boasts an electrifying, brave performance by Tilda Swinton and has a thrilling initial half, but eventually becomes tedious and convoluted while lacking plausibility and insight into the titular character.

Full Review Source: NYC Movie Guru | comment Comment
05/11/09
Avi Offer
Avi Offer
NYC Movie Guru

Zonca's Julia is a difficult movie to stomach, but entirely worth the emotional unrest it puts through you.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
05/11/09
Marcy Dermansky
Marcy Dermansky
About.com

We never get a good look at her demons, just the havoc they wreak.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
05/08/09
Betsy Sharkey
Betsy Sharkey
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Picture Fargo played with no sense of comedy, and you'll get some idea of the absurdity of this drunken floozy, clicking and wobbling on high heels, often with bits of her anatomy hanging out, trying to pull off the perfect crime.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
05/08/09
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith
New York Post

Like any beautiful, heartbreaking wreck -- we can never take our eyes off Julia. Or the fierce and uncompromising actress bringing her to awful, astonishing life.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
05/08/09
Stephen Whitty
Stephen Whitty
Newark Star-Ledger

A bungled thriller that starts out badly and never recovers.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
05/08/09
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Ms. Swinton doesn't have Ms. Rowlands' tenderness, but, damn, she has just about everything else you need or want.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/08/09
Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

[Director] Zonca’s merely feeding off Swinton’s manic performance, which starts out tough to watch, then becomes gripping.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
05/07/09
Noel Murray
Noel Murray
AV Club
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 >> >|
all

Latest News for Julia

August 17, 2009: RT on DVD: From Hannah Montana's Hoedown to Last House on the Left
This week, get your Miley Cyrus fix with Hannah Montana's feature-length trip to the big screen (Hannah Montana The Movie), or do a complete 180-degree turn with the latest... More...

May 11, 2009: RT Interview: Tilda Swinton on Julia
One of the most diverse and celebrated talents of her generation, the directors on Tilda Swinton's CV represent a veritable who's who of independent cinema and include David... More...

May 07, 2009: Critics Consensus: Star Trek Is The Best-Reviewed Wide Release of 2009!
This week at the movies, we've got a brand new Enterprise (Star Trek, starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto) and a failed delivery (Next Day Air, starring Donald Faison and... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

71% 71% Where the Wild Things Are 03/12
83% 83% Paranormal Activity 03/12
89% 89% Zombieland 03/12
77% 77% The Informant! 03/12
— The Strength of Water 03/12

What’s Hot On RT

Ban Them All!

Ban Them All!

10 Most Controversial Movies

Zombieland

Zombieland

Director Ruben Fleischer's favourites

New Avatar action

New Avatar action

Watch an exclusive chase clip from the film

Kids' Book Films

Kids' Book Films

We fly through 10 of the best

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
51
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
24
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
48
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
128
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
181
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
92
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
77
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
77
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
70
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
45
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
22
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
17
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
16
  • Total Recall: Children's Book Adaptations
3
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
16
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
21
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Julia at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Dressing Wonderland External Link

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Win Glee DVDs
Win Glee DVDs External Link

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Win tickets to Cold Souls
Win tickets to Cold Souls External Link

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.