Jules Movie Review

This movie is darling. Is that a word one uses in a critique of a film? Yes. I want to make it more straightforward for you by saying that. If you’re in a bad mood or feeling overwhelmed about anything, this story will lift you up and set you free of anything.​

You’ll lose yourself in what humble and reserved Milton, played by Ben Kingsley of Gandhi, goes through in his life in his tiny little town in Pennsylvania. Living alone with not much to do, the yarn starts a little slowly as we get to know him, but then you understand who he is and get to know the people in his life.

At the Community Council meeting he attends, nothing much matters except members complaining about everything, but he goes for something to do. He usually doesn’t speak, but he does this meeting. He finally has something to say! He wants to tell you about it! He walks up and tells everyone that a spaceship has landed in his backyard. It ruined his azaleas, making quite a mess of them. It has also destroyed his birdbath. Other than that, all is well with it.

His daughter Denise played by actress Zoe Winters of Succession, believes she’s seeing Milton start to slip mentally. She has found food in his bathroom cabinets and other strange things. Denise wants him to get a doctor’s appointment. She’s desperately worried about his health. But his friends Joyce, Jane Curtain from Saturday Night Live and Sandy Harriet Sansom Harris of Phantom Thread listen. What Joyce asks him to do is to stop saying such silliness. They’re older and younger people will never take them seriously if they’re speaking out of this world things such as a spacecraft with an extra-terrestrial in their yard.

In the meantime, Milton has brought the helpless Alien, who doesn’t speak, into his house. He finds out what he likes to eat. He loves apples and he covers him with a blanket. Milton isn’t afraid of him. He knows Jules must be the frightened one, being so far from his home with no family or friends. Milton has few people in his life to sit and talk to, so he has plenty to say to Jules, being a captive audience who has no option but to listen. Jules always stares blankly at Milton when he’s talking, but the look in his eyes seems caring and loving, as if he wishes he could help this distressed human. He takes it all in with a loving gaze.

Joyce and Sandy are willing to see if their friend has lost his mind or if this Alien is real, so they go and have a look. They instantly adore him and are in on whatever Milton needs from them to help. Watching, kind of babysitting him one day, Joyce talks to Jules about her entire life, even her sexual past. There’s no translator, but Jules seems to comprehend every word from her. Seeing him constantly working on his ship, they decide they must help him get to his own planet, hating to see him go. Do they have to, or can they join him? What a charming story. The performances, especially from Jade Quon who does a lot without speaking a word, are terrific and make this a movie you must see. Will it win an Academy Award? No, but it will be in your heart, and so will the tenderness of this story, especially when you read who the story was made for, which I won’t say. There’s a lesson we could all learn by paying close attention to what is being said. Enjoy. 

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Here’s a list of some of the theaters Jules will be playing…

Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18

Roadhouse Cinema Scottsdale 11

Shea 14 Theatre

Tempe Marketplace 16

Superstition Springs 25

Harkins Chandler Fashion Center 20

San Tan Village 16

Flagstaff 16

Prescott Valley Luxury 14

Surprise Pointe14

Mesa Grande 14

Ahwatukee 24

AMC Desert Ridge 18

Arrowhead 14