MOVIE CRITIQUE & SYNOPSIS:
Annette Bening is one of those stars who just light up the screen when she smiles. In addition to being extraordinarily beautiful, she is a rare actress who makes an immediate connection with her audience.

Bening carries this entire movie as she is in virtually every scene. Somewhat like the earlier "All About Eve," this movie might as well have been called "All About Julia," as the film is the portrait of a beautiful, selfish, hedonistic, and amoral actress named Julia. This is not to say that Julia does not have her good points, for she does, as she is courteous, intelligent, friendly, and gracious besides being the consummate actress.

In point of fact, Julia is such a consummate actress that her son remarks to her that he doesn't know the difference between his mother and the actress, for she always seems to be performing. It is only that the venue is smaller and more private when it's at home.

The flip side is that Julia is so used to being loved that she has trouble understanding why a former young admirer and lover from America, Tom Fennel (Shaun Evans), would dupe her and not respond to her protestations of love. All of her life is a stage, and Fennel is supposed to play his part as well.

Ever the good soldier, however, this actress recovers quickly to reply in kind and exact her revenge. Julia exists solely to be loved and those who do not love her had better not ever get in her way. For Julia, there is nothing more important than the theater or behaving every inch the star that she is.

Well, that is the way that she learned the craft from her teacher and mentor, Jimmy Langton (Michael Gambon), a theater impresario long since deceased. He had recognized her talent early in her life and had coached her until his death.

Long after his death Julia still sets a place for him at her dinner table and carries on imaginary conversations with him in her overly active imagination. Well, if all the world's a stage, then so is her mind. Julia always has, and always will, seek the comfort and advice from her beloved mentor. For his part, Jimmy will always be there to critique her performance from the inner recesses of her mind.

Julia Lambert is a true star and the toast of the stage of prewar 1930's London. She and her husband, Michael Gosselyn (Jeremy Irons), have a luxurious lifestyle with their spacious, well staffed London townhouse along with a chauffeur to drive their Rolls Royce.

It is all about Julia as she is the star. Her husband, Michael, is her business manager and part owner of the theater where she performs. The majority owner is a wealthy elderly couple, Dolly de Vries (Miriam Margolyes), and her husband, who both love the theater. Julia also has a devoted assistant, Evie (Juliet Stevenson), who has remained with her for many years and is devoted to her in spite of her many flaws and indiscretions.

After another long run of many months, Julia pleads exhaustion and begs Michael to allow her a holiday to travel and relax. Michael responds with ill-disguised shock and concern, for the theater does not have a tenant and would be a dead weight financial loss if the lights were to be turned off. He consults with Dolly and the two agree that the show must go on.

In the meantime, an obsequious young American fan of Julia has turned up begging for an interview. Michael introduces Tom Fennel (Shaun Evans) to Julia, who is then reminded that this is the "T-O-M" that has been hanging about lately, most likely hoping for an autographed picture.

Michael then grandly suggests that they go out to luncheon together. Fennel is thrilled and parlays his introduction to a later tea at the Gosselyn residence, a luxurious London townhouse. With her husband now absent, Fennel suggests that Julia return the favor by coming over to his home for tea.

Tom Fennel's home is a third floor walkup that is dingy but offers some charm along with a modest view through a half moon window of the roofs and chimneys of the many nearby apartment buildings. After a tea, he surprises her with a clumsy attempt at seduction. Julia feigns shock, but she actually is always pleased by any expressions of ardor from a fan.

They both understand that a second visit will end in the two of them cavorting about the room in sexual abandon. Tom is young and vigorous and Julia's marriage had turned platonic a number of years before. Every passion that she has had ever since has been put into her acting. Now she is faced with the possibility of this new diversion and it is very appealing to her.

Julia takes this opportunity to indulge herself in sexual hedonism and she loves it. Julia begins to sport a youthful glow and her newly energized theatrical performances are noticed by all, including her husband and Mrs. de Vries. When a new company is found to let the theater, Julia abruptly and surprisingly dismisses the opportunity to go on an extended vacation.

Even her best and only true friend, Lord Charles (Bruce Greenwood), notices how wonderful she looks and compliments her for it. The two have always been close, though never intimate, and he is the only person who Julia trusts enough to allow him occasionally to see her with her hair let down. Ever astute and observant, Lord Charles quickly guesses that Julia has taken a lover.

A small cloud begins to form on the horizon when Julia begins to notice that Tom is a social climber of the first order and he also has moments of callousness. After months of late night appearances at nightclubs and restaurants, mutual friends of the Gosselyns begin to express their concerns to her husband, Michael, who brushes them off as nothing to worry about.

To show further his lack of concern, he invites Tom down to the summer house that they will be renting for the summer. They both agree that this will be a "topping" idea as her son, Roger (Tom Sturridge), will also be there and he is only a few years younger than Tom.

However, the opportunity for frequent bouts of illicit romance on the side quickly fade for Julia, as Roger and Tom soon meet a bevy of local girls at the area nightclubs and invite them over for afternoons of dancing, games, and boating.

Of particular concern to Julia is a young blonde, Avice Crichton (Lucy Punch), who has obviously captured the fancy of Fennel. Her name should be "Avaricious" instead of Avice, for she is an amateur actress who is soon wheedling Tom for a part in an upcoming play that the Gosselyns will be producing when the fall theater season begins back in London.

Tom's true nature begins to show when he turns on Julia in a particularly brutal and abrupt manner in addition to refusing her repeated entreaties for sex. Even her son, Roger, catches her crying to herself one evening while alone in her bedroom.