Julie Johnson (2001)

Hoboken housewife and mother of two in her late thirties has very little education but is actually a closet physics nut; she kicks her husband out of the house when he makes fun of her ambition, to eventually become a computer scientist. Unreleased theatrical drama made the film festival rounds in 2002 but never picked up a distributor. While it doesn't have the scope (or budget) of something like "Good Will Hunting", it does have something more intricate and substantial: a leading character who is complicated and yet ordinary--determined and hopeful, but also naive. Lili Taylor is exceptionally confident in this role and she pulls off some tricky dramatic moments with grace. As her neighbor and best friend, Courtney Love is also very natural and appealing, and Spalding Gray does nice, low-key work as a teacher. The screenplay (by playwright Wendy Hammond, based on her play, and director Bob Gosse) certainly tackles a lot of issues, but the straightforward handling never allows the narrative to stumble (only in one or two scenes does it feel like it is overreaching, and a scene where Taylor's son cusses out mom's friend seems to come too early in the film and confuses us). Released on DVD by the gay-based entertainment division Here!, the movie has been tagged as a lesbian drama due to the ensuing close relationship between roommates Taylor and Love, however this theme is also handled quite unobtrusively, without any sign of cynicism or sensationalism; what the intimacy resolves (and what it soon leads to) is heartbreaking without being melodramatic or sentimental. Of course, it's a stretch to find that a barely-educated, low-income mother of two just may be an unsung genius, but Hammond and Gosse help us to believe it could happen in just this way. Their faith in the character helps us realize anything's possible and attainable. *** from ****

Wow - what an excellent film! Great acting, directing and story. Sort of "Rainman meets Hoboken housewife meets lesbian love affair". I must admit, I was very leery of watching this, fearing it was going to be a Lesbian Love Story. I must admit, I am not a fan of the L-Word, bit I loved Queer As Folk.I watched this because I had a copy of the movie, having done a DVD Release Party at the club I work at. Otherwise, it would have been very unlikely that I would have ever watched it. That said, I am very glad I did.The 90 minute film packs a lot of punch, and the first 30 minutes zoom by, setting the storyline for the rest of the film, so watch carefully. Lili Taylor and Courtney Love, the leading ladies are both excellent in their roles as relatively unhappy Hoboken NJ housewives. Julie (played by Taylor) embarks on a mission to get her GED, against her husbands wishes. She eventually kicks him out.Claire (played by Love), her best friend from High School, leaves her husband. With no place to go, Claire moves in with Julie and her 2 children. In the meantime, Julie begins her quest for knowledge, passing her GED and eventually turning her goals towards a college degree.Notice, we still don't have much of a love story, do we? Midway through the film, that all changes - in a compassionate, yet confusing manner. Without giving away the entire story line (which includes a few very funny scenes amongst most of the drama), two women must come to terms with their feelings, for each other, and for themselves.This is really a gem of a film, and (as I have said before), it is a shame this will not be seen by many --- some whom desperately need to see a story like this. If Brokeback Mountain and Transamerica can make the big screen, well then so should Julie Johnson. This is not a lesbian love story, this IS a story about relationships, and the journey most of us take to achieve happiness and love in our own lives.Buy, rent or see Julie Johnson.

I enjoyed this movie! Both actresses were in top form, and both the plot and the script were incredibly realistic (which can be a refreshing break from all of the "out there" Hollywood story lines).Briefly, it's about a woman who discovers that she doesn't want to be an uneducated house wife for the rest of her life, so she decides to pursue her dream of going to school. It's quite inspirational.I really enjoyed the main actress in six-feet-under. She's very genuine and "real-seeming." Courney-love, despite all the bad press she's received through the years, was superb. She's an excellent actress (and I'm pretty picky).Bottomline: If you like indie films, definitely check it out!

i loved lili taylor in this movie. and although there were some scenes that were truly well done, engaging and enjoyable, i have to agree with the other comments so far: something was missing, something just wasn´t right. it seems to me that someone wasn´t totally sure what the movie was to be about, what its main focus should be. julie´s suddenly discovered academic talents somehow ring false, there is nothing here that would explain them or make them believable. i was expecting an upbeat movie, and although the direction the story took in the end made sense, it wasn´t exactly satisfying. for anyone who wants to see rebelling housewives or who just wants to see lili taylor and courtney love ACT (or kiss each other), i would recommend this one though.