'Julie' did have potential. Doris Day (my main reason for seeing it, with the film being part of my completest quest, watching the films of hers not yet seen) was an immensely talented performer, especially good in comedy and musicals and some of her dramatic stuff was good too. The cast is a talented one and am also a fan of thriller dramas.
While there are a number of good elements, it is agreed that 'Julie' is an uneven film. Frustratingly so. One of those films that starts off quite well and has one particularly riveting scene but later becomes a film of two or three sections that starts to unravel in the middle and then feels like a completely different film by the end. It does seem like this is the general consensus regarding 'Julie', but my honest feelings were actually exactly the same before reviewing it and hearing of its reputation.
Day looks radiant and is utterly convincing here, one of her better and more natural and never over-acted dramatic performances despite the film being one of the weaker dramatic films she starred in. Louis Jourdan is chillingly psychotic as the villainous husband, and there are perfectly pitched supporting turns from Frank Lovejoy and especially Barry Sullivan. Most of 'Julie' is well made, having a noir-ish look that gives the film so much atmosphere, while there is some above competent direction of Andrew L Stone.
Stone's direction particularly shines in his speciality for filming dramas in situations that happen in real life with props of great authenticity. Leith Stevens does provide some atmospheric music. 'Julie' does have some genuine tension and suspense and its most memorable and most famous scene, the plane landing scene, is riveting and its most memorably regarded scene for very good reason.
However, am going to be one of those people who will respectfully but strongly disagree with the Oscar nominations for best original script and best song, both to me among the most undeserved in their respective categories. Personally found the title song, even with Day singing it beautifully (as always), instantly forgettable and un-fitting with the rest of the film. Day has had far better songs in her career. Similarly, the dialogue a vast majority of the time was banal and overwrought.
Most of the film looks good, but not so at the beginning with some noticeably cheap and distracting rear-projection. It is the story where 'Julie' most falls down. It is wildly and frustratingly uneven, with seriously draggy pacing issues in the middle and the tension and suspense becomes replaced by over-the-top melodrama, repetition and implausibility that goes beyond ridiculousness at worst.
In conclusion, could have been frightening but instead makes the viewer annoyed at how such a potentially good film falls apart as much as it does apart from redeeming itself with that aforementioned memorable scene. 5/10 Bethany Cox
While there are a number of good elements, it is agreed that 'Julie' is an uneven film. Frustratingly so. One of those films that starts off quite well and has one particularly riveting scene but later becomes a film of two or three sections that starts to unravel in the middle and then feels like a completely different film by the end. It does seem like this is the general consensus regarding 'Julie', but my honest feelings were actually exactly the same before reviewing it and hearing of its reputation.
Day looks radiant and is utterly convincing here, one of her better and more natural and never over-acted dramatic performances despite the film being one of the weaker dramatic films she starred in. Louis Jourdan is chillingly psychotic as the villainous husband, and there are perfectly pitched supporting turns from Frank Lovejoy and especially Barry Sullivan. Most of 'Julie' is well made, having a noir-ish look that gives the film so much atmosphere, while there is some above competent direction of Andrew L Stone.
Stone's direction particularly shines in his speciality for filming dramas in situations that happen in real life with props of great authenticity. Leith Stevens does provide some atmospheric music. 'Julie' does have some genuine tension and suspense and its most memorable and most famous scene, the plane landing scene, is riveting and its most memorably regarded scene for very good reason.
However, am going to be one of those people who will respectfully but strongly disagree with the Oscar nominations for best original script and best song, both to me among the most undeserved in their respective categories. Personally found the title song, even with Day singing it beautifully (as always), instantly forgettable and un-fitting with the rest of the film. Day has had far better songs in her career. Similarly, the dialogue a vast majority of the time was banal and overwrought.
Most of the film looks good, but not so at the beginning with some noticeably cheap and distracting rear-projection. It is the story where 'Julie' most falls down. It is wildly and frustratingly uneven, with seriously draggy pacing issues in the middle and the tension and suspense becomes replaced by over-the-top melodrama, repetition and implausibility that goes beyond ridiculousness at worst.
In conclusion, could have been frightening but instead makes the viewer annoyed at how such a potentially good film falls apart as much as it does apart from redeeming itself with that aforementioned memorable scene. 5/10 Bethany Cox