Julia (2008)

A promiscuous alcoholic tramp (Tilda Swinton) is out of control. She refuses to acknowledge her alcoholism which prevents her from keeping a job or securing a relationship. When she meets another alcoholic, a psychotic woman (Kate Del Castillo) whose son (Aidan Gould) has been placed with his wealthy paternal grandfather, she agrees to help the woman kidnap her son but plots to double cross her and hold the kid for ransom. Directed by Erick Zonka, I found this a morally reprehensible film. While I can admire Swinton's committed performance and (no surprise) she's impeccable, the film attempts to somewhat redeem her douchebag character by the film's end but she's a total loser and all the crap that happens to her (including two murders) is because of her own greed and stupidity! John Cassavetes did it so much better in GLORIA (you know Zonka has seen the movie, when Swinton is asked her name, she responds with "Gloria") which has a similar theme of an aging gangster's moll and the reluctant bond she forms with a little boy. But Cassavetes' GLORIA had an ethical backbone which JULIA hasn't. At almost 2 1/2 hours, the film is way too long and bordering on self indulgent. Although filmed in California and Mexico in English, the film is a French production and Swinton received a Cesar (the French Oscar) nomination for her performance here. With Saul Rubinek and Bruno Bichir.