Julia
An alcoholic drifter’s reckless child-kidnapping scheme collides with a Mexican drug-trafficking empire in a stylish, punishing crime drama.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- bleak
- volatile
- uncompromising
- serious movie night
- crime thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Erick Zonca’s stylish, uncompromising crime drama and Tilda Swinton’s unforgettable lead performance, while some found its length and emotional resolution problematic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Julia’s kidnapping scheme and escalating confrontation with traffickers become the means through which she seeks to recover purpose and agency.
Julia’s alcoholism, job loss, and impulsive decision to abduct Tom shape the film’s unpredictable progression.
Critics specifically praised the film as stylish and of dizzying beauty despite its harsh kidnapping and drug-trafficking plot.
Julia takes Tom to demand money from his wealthy grandfather, whose fortune is tied to Mexican drug trafficking.
Films like Julia, and why
The Grifters
shared uncompromising crime drama, damaged protagonist, and morally unstable tension
Bound
shared neo-noir atmosphere, criminal desperation, and psychologically complex female lead
Fargo
shared bleakly comic crime narrative, volatile outsiders, and escalating criminal entanglement
The Vanishing
shared hard-edged kidnapping thriller structure and morally compromised characters
Movie Details
- Director
- Erick Zonca
- Release Date
- 2008-03-12
- Runtime
- 144 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (127)
Cast
- Tilda Swinton
- Saul Rubinek
- Kate del Castillo
- Aidan Gould
- Jude Ciccolella
- Bruno Bichir
- Horacio García Rojas
- Gaston Peterson
- Kevin Kilner
- John Bellucci
Common questions
- What is Julia about?
- An alcoholic drifter’s reckless child-kidnapping scheme collides with a Mexican drug-trafficking empire in a stylish, punishing crime drama.
- What is Julia like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Julia as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Julia violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Julia as brutal.
- What did critics think of Julia?
- Critics broadly praised Erick Zonca’s stylish, uncompromising crime drama and Tilda Swinton’s unforgettable lead performance, while some found its length and emotional resolution problematic.
- Which films are like Julia?
- Films with a similar feel include The Grifters, Bound, Fargo, and The Vanishing.
- How long is Julia?
- Julia runs 144 minutes.
