Being Julia

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Being Julia ★★★ 2004 (R)

Bening triumphs in the title role as a largerthan life stage actress suffering a midlife dip. But this delightful diva still has the de viousness to show a couple of whippers nappers what it means to be a star. Swan ning about in 1938 London, Julia has a strong support system, led by her unfaith ful but loving manager/husband Michael (Irons). However, she's bored and ready for a little fling with Tom (Evans), a fawn ing young fan with an agenda of his own, involving his ambitious actress girlfriend (Punch). When Julia discovers she's been used, she takes the opportunity not only to get revenge but as a step in revitalizing her life. Based on the novel “Theatre” by W. Somerset Maugham. 105m/C DVD . HU CA GB Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons, Bruce Greenwood, Miriam Margolyes, Juliet Stevenson, Shaun Evans, Lucy Punch, Maury Chaykin, Sheila McCarthy, Michael Gambon, Leigh Lawson, Rosemary Harris, Rita Tushingham, Thomas Sturridge; D: Istvan Szabo; W: Ronald Harwood; C: Lajos Koltai; M: Mychael Danna. Golden Globes '05: Actress—Mus./Comedy (Bening).