Being Julia

Thoroughly Entertaining Froth

Based on one of Maugham's novellas, this film focuses on Julia Lambert (Annette Bening) who, when she first appears, is well into a mid-life crisis in both her career and private life. It is set in London during the 1930s which is brilliantly simulated by Lajos Koltai (cinematographer), Luciana Arrighi (production designer), and Paul Ghiradani (supervising art director). With her nerves obviously frazzled, Julia urges her husband Michael Gosselyn (Jeremy Irons) to shut down the theatre in which she performs and which he manages so that she can take a much-needed vacation. Theirs is a cordial friendship and candid professional rapport within a marriage which has had tenderness but no intimacy for many years. (Their one child, a son, is a student at Eton.) We soon suspect (correctly) that Michael plays around, behavior which intensifies Julia's doubts about her sex appeal. And then a charming young American, Tom Fennel (Shaun Evans), comes into her life. Befriended by Michael, Tom almost immediately exploits Julia's personal vulnerability which, however, her confidence in her talents and skills as a professional actress. The balance of the film examines the relationship which develops between them.

Noteworthy is the inclusion of the Jimmie Langton character (a ghost seen only by Julia, brilliantly played by Michael Gambon) whose function somewhat resembles that of the ghosts which appeared to Ebenezer Scrooge and of the Stage Manager in Our Town. Once a mentor to both Michael and Julia, Jimmie had directed her before his death years ago and once again guides her through her complicated, at times perilous relationships both on and off the stage.

Many of Maugham's novels, novellas, and short stories now seem somewhat dated to me. Hence the importance of Istvan Szabo's crisp and assured direction of the film's cast and crew. The performances as well as the plot development have Snap! Crackle! and Pop! I would be very surprised if Bening is not nominated for an Academy Award for best actress in a leading role. Members of the supporting cast are also outstanding, notably Irons, Evans, Lucy Punch (as Avice Crichton), Miriam Margolyes (as Dolly de Vries), and Juliet Stevenson (as Evie). Those who enjoy this film as much as I did are urged to check out Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve (1950), Sweet Bird of Youth (1962), and Topsy-Turvy (1999).

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