"Julie and Julia," The Movie

Why isn't it titled "Julia and Julie," as without Julia Child there likely would have been no blog for Julie Powell, no book, no movie made from the book? Most likely because the blogger in question comes across as a whiny, self-absorbed twit, even with  Amy Adams' customary twinkle in operation.

Yes, this is a food ( and wine) film. And, yes, watching Meryl Streep unwrap and deliver Julia Child is the only reason one might want to rent the future DVD, just to see what she does and when and how she does it. Streep is an actor who uses her entire body in the creation of a persona,  from her feet  all the way up into her coif. ( But, of course, one is not supposed to be avidly scoping out the technical details of an actor's work while watching a film--one wants to be utterly absorbed in a place, a story.)

As a film, this melding of Julie and Julia does not work.  Julie is small and Julia is large. Julie complains and Julia rises above. The director/screen writer Nora Ephron could have made the Julie character more feisty and generous, but presumably the "real" Julie held sway.

And so, as my friend and I watched the film yesterday we were both fighting off sleep during the Julie bits, and rearing awake whenever Julia was on board. And we both recalled that our respective mothers cooked Julia's boeuf bourgignon, which, then as now, closely resembled the less glamorously dubbed  "pot roast," save for the addition of red wine to the former.

The movie will make you run out to buy more butter, and some decent red. And consider how well people back in the day dressed, even with the silly hats.

Comments

[Boracay Hotel Package]

Its a a nice movie about Julia Child and her passion for cooking.

[House Plans]

Seen the movie version of it and really love the actors acting.

[China Web Hosting]

I'll probably watch it later before bedtime. Thanks for sharing the info!

[SEO Los Angeles]

I have just finished watching the movie, I love how they portrayed their roles on the movie.

[Boracay Beach Resort]

Just finished downloading the movie, I'll probably watch it later when everyone's asleep.

[Foodie]

KF Her passionate defense of veal, with all that was and is known of the horrors of raising calves in boxes, finished it for us.

That said, according to her old friends, the jolly, unpompous Julia of the film's slice of time supposedly was accurate.

Here's what gets us: the ONLY food-related exhibit at the Smithsonian is the recreation of Julia's kitchen, always filled with visitors. Hence, our call for a National Food Museum on the Mall.

[KathyF]

I really cannot stand Julia Child. Such a pompous ass.

[Foodie]

Tks, Gritty!
You've hit on a key point--most of us no longer cook the old French-style rich sauces...and master time-consuming cooking methods, however interestingly described by JC. Lord knows the food is goooood, but what wouldn't be, involving mega mounds of butter?!

I bet your simple farm fare is terrific, but I applaud your efforts in pushing the envelope.

[grittypretty]

HEY! Quit the rudeness about Julie! You've missed the point! Without Julie there would be no Julia renaissance. Without Julie I wouldn't be upping my culinary skills from simple farm fare to French cuisine.

Now that my rant is over...I have been reading your blog for a long time and love it! =)