marieinkpen As film-making, maybe it is good. But as anything else it is beyond awful. I saw the interview with Tilda Swinton after I watched the DVD and she said that she had just been to a screening and knew the audience was on Julia's side when they seemed concerned that the hotel cleaner might have seen the kidnapped boys legs sticking out from behind the sofa. She laughed and said that's how the film corrupts people, you get drawn in and are hoping she'll get away with it. Er, sorry, no. At that point I desperately wanted the hotel cleaner to go and get the police. Alas, she didn't. All through the film I was desperately hoping that Julia would get caught or would actually see sense and give up the ridiculous kidnap plot and hand herself in. This is a boorish, loud,vulgar, conceited alcoholic who runs over a man, kidnaps a small boy at gunpoint, wearing a mask, drugs him, ties him up with tape, puts him in the boot of her car on two occasions and in a large suitcase on one occasion - and we are expected to have some sympathy for her when she finally tries to protect the boy from other kidnappers (while still trying to ensure she gets the money she wants). Oh and shoots a man in the head at point blank range when she thinks he will mess up her chance of getting two million dollars. You just think, for Christ's sake, is money really that important? Even the supposedly moving scene where the boy joins Julia in bed for some maternal affection is distinctly creepy. Are we meant to like her just because she doesn't sexually abuse him too? And even though it clumsily tries to redeem itself with the level- headedness of the character Mitch who tries to talk sense into Julia (and fails abysmally) all in all this is a pretty repugnant film, very ugly character. It can be brave to showcase a main character who is so flawed but to engage an audience you usually need something extra, charisma, something. This was just ugly.

movies-by-db Wow, what a riveting watch.. It had me completely captivated from start to finish. Tilda Swinton's performance of the titular character is so good and believable it just hurts to watch. She is a timebomb, an avalanche waiting to happen a plane on it's way down, ready to crash and burn. She's extremely sexy, yet you wouldn't even touch her with a shovel. Tilda Swinton is the film.Opportunity comes knocking when Julia meets a neighbour at an AA meeting. A way to possibly fix some of her (financial) problems and extend her endless party, 'cause that's all Julia does. Get into trouble and party. However this opportunity offered is so twisted and so improbable it's more likely to be a shortcut to her inevitable demise.I can't stop ranting on about this performance from Tilda Swinton. It's so pure, so convincing. I absolutely love her. I would want to take this character under my wing and gently nurse her back to sanity. Just like her her friend Mitch (played perfectly by Saul Rubinek) wants to do. She almost meets her equal in the neighbour Elena, an also stunning performance by Kate del Castillo. Almost like adding one volatile chemical to another. She just drove me crazy, but in a good way. A mentally unstable damaged woman that, you know, can not be good for Julia.What kind of film is this.. Is it black comedy? Is it tragicomedy? It's like a Coen brothers film doused in alcohol, bleach and a hefty dose of realism and with such a performance by the lead I'm amazed I didn't hear from this earlier on. In it's sadness and tragedy and insanity the only other film you could compare this with is Keane by Lodge Kerrigan. Very highly recommended 8/10

Rich359 One thing I learned from this film: stay away from AA meetings or alcholics. Sorry, but this is an incredibility stupid and unbelievable film. Everyone associated with AA in the film is really twisted and sick,even the lone person that trys to disuade Julia from kidnapping isn't very forcefull. The crime is taken with as much seriousness as perhaps someone stealing a petty cash account from their job. The film may have worked if it took itself seriously as a character study of how dangerous an unrecovered alcoholic can be, but it elvolves into somekind of chase film that resembles the 1980 "Gloria", with "Gloria" being a far more pausable film. Also, in Gloria, the main character did not set out to commit any crime, the boy was thrust into her life. Oh, did I forget to mention how nicely Mexican people are portrayed in this film, they are either psychoic or ruthless criminals. Hard to believe in 2009, by a politically correct French filmmaker no less, could an entire counrty and people be treated so shabby. The writers and director should be ashamed of themselves.

LeonardOsborneKael "JULIA" is a rare example of a movie created IN English by a French director - and Erick Zonca is truly one of the finest directors around these days. He's only made 6 films and all of them have won or been nominated for major awards. Sadly overlooked by American audiences, "JULIA" is a beautifully crafted mystery-suspense drama that serves as a wonderful setting for the amazing Tilda Swinton to present one of the most resonant motion picture performances of recent years. It's an in-depth "lead" and, at the same time, "character" role and her performance is truly unforgettable. As we have come to expect from Mr. Zonca, this is a beautifully crafted yet spontaneous work. It is a living, breathing, thoughtful film experience that will stay with you for a long time.