Julia (1977)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Vanessa
Redgrave, Jason Robards, Maximilian Schell, Jane Fonda, Hal Holbrook, Meryl
Streep
Plot: Lillian Hellman, a playwright takes on a mission to
smuggle money into Nazi Germany to help fight against them. Her best friend
Julia gets her involved in the anti-Nazi movement. Lillian who is of Jewish
Decent takes on the hefty cause.
My Review and Thoughts:
My Film Rating: 5 out of 5
Twilight Time has done it again with this amazing choice.
One of the great films of all time. Sadly, this movie seems to never get the
push and wonder it deserves. This is a wonderful, dramatic story that should be
seen and expressed, talked about. Thankfully the company Twilight Time honored
this movie with a spot on Blu-ray transfer, and is a high definition beauty.
Julia is one of my favorite films. If you know me I am a huge world War 2
history buff, mainly dealing with the Nazi’s and their unspeakable horrors. One
thing I collect is World War 2 movies and documentaries. Julia is one of those
films I was hoping to come to Blu-ray, and Twilight Time has answered that
hope. Julia is a movie that is rich with acting, direction, and most of all
storyline. It’s a film that stands out above and beyond a lot of films. The
performances in this movie is jaw dropping brilliance at its finest.
This stars one of my favorite all time actresses. She is on
my top 10 Female actresses list. The beautiful, stunning and powerful Vanessa
Redgrave. Redgrave is a god when it comes to capturing a character and giving
that character life and the very essence of reality. She has starred in some of
my favorite films, the one of kind masterpiece and World War 2 film, Playing
for Time. Julia is worthy just to see her performance. The whole cast, Jason
Robards, stunning. Jane Fonda gives one of the great filmed performances of
cinema. The whole cast works.
The director behind this wonderful film Fred Zinnemann needs
no introduction, but because of this modern generation, who many persons calling
themselves movie buffs, don’t look to the past of cinema, I have to describe a
man that should be on any movie buff’s mind. Zinnemann was a director, producer
that gave the world masterpieces. Yes, masterpieces. The one and only western
masterpiece, 1952’s High Noon. If that doesn’t tell you anything nothing will.
He also brought the masterpiece, 1953’s From Here to Eternity, 1948’s The
Search, the amazing 1973's The Day of the Jackal, and the one I am reviewing 1977’s
Julia, which I highly recommend watching just like all the others I have mentioned,
and many, many others. Now his, From Here to Eternity, and also A Man for All
Seasons (Which might I add Twilight Time has released on a Special Edition
Blu-ray, which you can read my review for it HERE), both won him, Best Feature
Film at the Academy Awards in 1953 and 1966. That shows you his amazing talent,
and plus I have to mention that in his vast career of directing, he has
directed 18 actors to be nominated for Best Actor by the Academy Awards, and 6
of those actors won for best actor in his films, which is a stunning
realization of his brilliance in directing performers.
Julia was nominated for
11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best
Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay. It won three
of those awards. The beautiful stunning Vanessa Redgrave won for Best
Supporting Actress. The movie also won Best Supporting Actor and Best Adapted
Screenplay. I feel this movie deserved all the wins. It shocks me that this
film has never been given the grand treatment it deserves, and so that is why
Twilight Time did the amazing job of crafting this masterpiece on a new outlet.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
This film has never looked any better. The high definition
is brilliant. The colors and picture quality is vibrant and the sound is crisp.
Twilight Time does so many wonderful examples of how to treat a film. They
bring worthy products, to absolutely praise.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1977 / Color
118 MINUTES
Extras:
My Rating: 2 out of 5
Isolated Score Track (with some effects). Composing the music
for the film is another worthy to be talked about persona in the film world,
Georges Delerue. He died young at the age of 67, but left a vast array of
excellence to be remembered in the film world. He had an amazing total of well
over 350 composing jobs. From such greats like, 1959’s Hiroshima Mon Amour,
1963’s Contempt, 1970’s The Conformist. The amazing 1983’s Silkwood, that I
wish someone would honor and bring out on Blu-ray. 1986’s Platoon, 1989’s Steel
Magnolias and many, many more from Composing, to musical director, to
conductor. He was an amazing musician, and he shines on this isolated music
track. Another fantastic special feature.
Audio Commentary with Actress Jane Fonda and Film Historian
Nick Redman. A wonderful listen. A great example of a special feature, Jane
Fonda is always a great listen. Another fantastic commentary by Nick Redman.
Redman is very knowledgeable and is always a true treat to listen to his
expertise on film.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
This is a movie that stands the test of time. It’s a film
that never gets old. I have seen it so many times. It was wonderful seeing it
taken care of, and brought out on Blu-ray. Twilight Time truly knows how to
treat an important film and give it a new outlet for future generations to
enjoy. A wonderful film that I highly recommend. This is a must own Blu-ray.
Beautiful transfer. A dynamic Blu-ray of dynamic film.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
Also head over and like Twilight Time on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/twilighttimemovie