Julia
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Movie Reviews of Julia
Movie Review: The Truth behind..."Julia"
Summary: 5 Stars
Hellman had a childhood friend (Alice) that grew up and died in the Vienna riots, 1934. (An Unfinished Woman, chapter four). Obviously, this is what inspired the Chapter....Julia... in her later book. So the story is probably true to the point where they charged the students...and the newspaper headline that follows. Scenes at the hospital were probably made up as her friend, Alice, died in the riots. The train trip was probably made up , but she did go to Moscow.
The story of her life with Hammett is completely believable even though locations may have been changed. Her relationship with Dorothy Parker, and the trip to Paris....look to be true. The later part of the movie as to how she dealt with Julia's body could have well been true...but happened immediately after the Vienna riot.
The part where Hammett says...."You'd better tear that up.." happened later in her life in regards to the play..."The Autumn Garden" and not in relation to her first play.."The Children's Hour".
The movie, the story...very well done. Fonda, Redgrave, and Robarts...all excellent.
If you really want to enjoy this movie. I suggest you do the following reading. Hellman's three books....plus her play ..."The Children's Hour". Read about Dorothy Parker, I believe there is a book "The Life and Times of Dorothy Parker." I can not recall the title exactly. It's the times of the 30's that is really interesting to me and frames this story superbly.
Movie Review: "Beads On a Hot Dancer . . ."
Summary: 5 Stars
When I recently purchased the DVD of "Julia," I recalled these words uttered by Lilly and her friend Julia in their adolescent memory game; the image, from Hellman's book "Pentimento"--repeated in the film--is as vivid and unforgettable as is this splendid film, which has not dimmed with the passage of time. If anything, "Julia" has improved over the years, time having rendered the former controversies over the politics of Fonda and Redgrave and the truth or falsity of Hellman's narrative irrelevant.
Every character in this film is finely delineated: Jane Fonda as the insecure chain-smoking author, Lillian; Vanessa Redgrave as her best friend in the title role [and the word "luminous," with which several reviewers characterize Redgrave's performance, does not constitute hyperbole]; Jason Robards as Lilly's gruff but tender mentor and lover; Maximilian Schell as Julia's impoverished anti-fascist go-between; and the two actresses who play Lilly and Julia as young girls. All are superb.
"Julia" is arguably one of the best espionage films ever produced in Hollywood. The image of a transcontinental train hurtling through the snow-bound night, just as the world is hurtling headlong into war, evokes danger and guarantees entertainment of the highest calibre. Many Oscar-winning films nowadays are well acted but so depressing that one might not want to view them a second time. "Julia" is a keeper, especially at Amazon's ridiculously low price.
Movie Review: A Movie for All Seasons
Summary: 5 Stars
Having been much taken with "Julia" upon its release in 1977, I was curious if I would be so enthralled by it over thirty years later. It holds up very well indeed. Starring Jane Fonda as the writer Lillian Hellman and directed by Fred Zinnemann ("A Man for All Seasons") it is based on a story taken supposedly from Hellman's memoir PENTIMENTO although Reynolds Price in his latest memoir ARDEN SPIRITS accuses Hellman of "purloining" incidents from the life of Muriel Gardiner Buttinger. At any rate the story of what happens to Julia (Vanessa Redgrave) and her fight against fascism in the 1930's makes for high drama of the first order. Both Redgrave and Jason Robards, who plays Dash Hammett, Hellman's lover, both received Oscars for their performances. Maximilian Schell and Hal Holbrook have minor roles, and Meryl Streep has a few lines as well. This seems to me to be Jane Fonda at her best-- she looks terribly young and beautiful-- before she started playing herself as so often happens to actors as they get older. Certainly she is in good company here: think Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson as two examples. Oh, and Redgrave, never one to shun controversy, is just as famous-- or infamous, depending on your point of view-- for her "Zionist" remarks in her Oscar acceptance speech as she is for this very fine performance.
The film opens and closes with the same peaceful scene with voice over from Hellman's memoir. A really fine movie indeed.
Movie Review: Jane Fonda as Lilliam Hellman
Summary: 5 Stars
JULIA (1977) is a great movie, beautifully adapted from Lillian Hellman's story by Alvin Sargent, exquisitely directed by Fred Zinnemann and boasting a cast of fine actors, including Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, Jason Robards, Hal Holbrook, Rosemary Murphy, Maximilian Schell and, in her film debut, Meryl Streep.
The film earned eleven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Redgrave, Robards and Sargent won their statuettes.
Fonda plays Hellman, who in the early 1930s was an angry, struggling wannabe playwright, living with mystery writer Dashiell Hammett (Robards). With success still eluding her, she travels to Europe, hoping to find a better atmosphere in which to write, and also to visit with her oldest and dearest friend, Julia (Redgrave), daughter of a very wealthy family who is studying medicine in Vienna.
Julia is also involved in an anti-Fascist/anti-Nazi movement, which has resulted in her being badly injured. In fact, after Hellman visits her in the hospital, she disappears. Years later, after she has become a Broadway success, Lillian is asked by Julia, via a political acquaintance (Schell), to undertake a dangerous clandestine mission against the Nazis.
Though much of it may be fiction, JULIA is a gripping, moving, often suspenseful drama that stays with viewers long after it has ended. It's one of this writer's very favorite films.
© Michael B. Druxman
Movie Review: Film with unusual atmosphere
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched this film several times and it always had a big impact on me.
It is an unusual American film, since it is more "european" or intimate in style. It is very gentle, a bit feminine, more about feelings than action, still a very interesting.
The actors, especially Jane Fonda and beautiful Vanessa Redgrave are amazing! I loved the scenery. I loved the girls who played Julia and Lilly as young girls. They were so charming and pure.
There was something unique about the friendship of these women but I also could identify with both of them.
Vanessa Redgrave played herself, since she is a political and social activist. This helped her to be very natural.
Lilly (Julia) was also very real with her devotion to the friend but also fear of the consequences.
I loved the film, I loved the main plot and all these extra twists caused by the impending war. I was born in Poland and I know how war can affect people's life in all aspects.