| Julie and Julia Movie review |
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| Written by Ella Francesco |
| Monday, 24 August 2009 11:01 |
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Julie and Julia, released August 7th, is a unique movie which brings to life not just one, but two books. One being Julie Powell’s book of the same name, and the other being Julia Child’s memoir, My Life in France. The movie is directed by Nora Ephron who is an A-lister herself, and features the talented Meryl Streep as Julia, Stanley Tucci as Julia’s husband Paul, and Amy Adams as Julie. In the one book, the movie tells of Julie, a 29 year old woman who feels unfulfilled in her corporate job and dreams of a writing career, or at least something more fulfilling than her life in a cubicle. During a soul-searching dinner with her husband, her passion for cooking is mentioned as a possible creative outlet, and a blog was the easiest and cheapest way to make a commitment to a writing project.  She begins her blog outlining her triumphs and failures as she makes her way through Julia Child‘s Cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Her goal: to make all 524 recipes in 365 days in her tiny apartment. During these challenges we get to experience the joys (and disappointments) of roast duck, hollandaise sauce, beouf bourguignon, strawberry parfait, and even more simple pleasures like poached eggs!In the other part of this movie is the other book where we are transported back in time to see Julia Child as she is just beginning her cooking lessons at the famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. Being just of that age where the name Julia Child is very familiar to me (not because I used her cookbooks but because my mom had at least one in her kitchen when I was growing up) I was intrigued and delighted to discover how enchanting and vivacious a person she was. In France, she wasn't just some American, she was the life of the party in spite of her not-so-dainty figure and large vocals. Both Tucci and Adams give excellent performances in their own right, but it is predictably, Meryl Streep who holds us raptly on screen with her wonderful portrayal of this fascinating woman by bringing the harshness of the real character down just a notch, so that we can all appreciate Julia Child more than ever. The result is a delightful two hour romp of fun and humour and history that leaves one wanting to savour the tastes and aromas of excellent French cuisine, either by a trip abroad or in one’s very own kitchen! |
