In Julie & Julia
…
- Meryl Streep delivers an engaging, statuesque, delicious performance in her lead role as Julia Child; her Golden Globe win affirms what we already know (and knocks on Oscar's door)
- It's a movie, at the end of the day, that celebrates the impact of blogging (though Amy Adams' Julie Powell storyline grated my nerves like she grated cheese)
- It venerates marriage in the sweetest of ways. Who would've imagined that Stanley Tucci could pull off a convincing lovable, sexy, romantic lead? His Paul Child characterization was among the most endearing silver screen husbands I can recall.
- Butter & boeuf à la bour?gui?gnonne…although the latter is impossible to pronounce.
- Nora Ephron.
Agree? Disagree? I'd love to hear you chime in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Revised after the Golden Globes closed the book on 2009.
Best acceptance speech of the night (I know this in spite of watching only about an hour of the show)(& makes me curious about a movie I hadn't even heard about):
-
Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Mo'Nique, Precious
Makes me think Golden Globe voters are wicked schmart (in addition to Streep's win):
- Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side -
Animated Feature Film
Up
Makes me think Golden Globe voters are idiots (I feel the rotten tomatoes aiming fire!):
-
Motion Picture, Drama
AvatarMotion Picture, Comedy or Musical
The Hangover
(Yes, I saw it after squillions of people I know told me it was hilarious…and I watched the entire movie with my head cocked to the side the way a dog does when he hears a funny noise waiting for the humor to arrive. I was less than impressed. And this time? I don't care if you judge me ;).)
I really really tried to get through this movie last week. I liked the blogging part as well, but that voice of Julia Child/Meryl Streep nearly drove me nuts! I got to the very end of the movie where she gets the phone call, and I had to take the movie back. Hate I missed the ending though.
Lots to love about this movie. Primarily Meryl Streep. I thought she was fantastic as Julia Childs and the voice is part of the charm, in my humble opinion. Stanley Tucci was great, as always. And the food – oo la la. What’s not to love about butter.
The “Julie” part of the movie was just o.k. I thought Norah and Amy Adams worked together to make her more appealing than in the book. I didn’t like Julie at all in the book. But I certainly did admire her gumption.
Thanks for blogging, Robin. I’m a lurker, and new to your blog.
I’ve not seen many movies this year but I’ve seen Julie and Julia and …absolutely lOVED it! The two things I love to do; blogging and cooking combined. What could be better?
I totally understood when Julie asked “is anyone out there?” after posting regularly on her blog with no comments. It takes time and patience. And then I laughed so hard when her first comment was from her mother; which didn’t really count. LOL.
My husband bought me the DVD because I loved it so much. I think Meryl Streep was excellent as Julia Child. Her voice and mannerisms were right on and I hope that she wins awards for this role.
If any blogger hasn’t seen this movie, run and rent it now. You will enjoy it.
Debbie
I haven’t seen this, though I want to. But now I heard some stuff from my crit group about the real-life blogger Julie that made me less enthusiastic about the movie. I’m trying to ignore that. Hope to watch it in the next couple of weeks.
Haven’t seen The Hangover, but watching them accepting that award felt a little like watching the jocks from my high school accept the Nobel Peace Prize. So weird.
Agree! Really enjoyed it, as did my husband actually! And you’re so spot on about Stanley Tucci.
I am unapologetically geeky. I saw this in the theater with a bunch of my blogger friends. We had so much fun. I adored Streep’s portrayal of Julia, I never read the book so I just hoped that Julie’s character was a bit over-dramatized. I’m sure she’s a lovely lady, I just couldn’t get into her character as portrayed.
Oh my goodness, this makes my list of my all-time favorite movies. I loved it so much! And you’re right–Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar for her performance.
Oh, I love Julie & Julia, went to see it by myself & enjoyed every minute of it. My hubby doesn’t do chick flicks. 🙂
But, we BOTH absolutely loved The Blindside. Hands down, one of the top best movies I’ve ever seen. I might even buy the DVD (and I never do that!). We don’t go to movies all that much anymore, so it has to be a good one to get us out there.
I LOVED this movie! My daughter and I saw it together while my husband and grandson saw some hampster movie. I have since dragged everyone I know to see it and it was the ONLY movie I purchased last year.
My grandson, after watching it, asked me who was first? Julie or Miss Paula? Made me laugh out loud, he did.
I felt the same way about The Hangover. It’s not that I don’t like that type of humor either. I just didn’t think that movie was very funny.
We saw The Blind Side on Christmas Day. I think I will buy this movie. Sandra Bullock did a wonderful job, and it was an inspiring story.
I’ve had Julie and Julia for a few weeks now from Netflix. I keep waiting to be able to watch it, but no one wants to watch it with me. I tried watching it on the laptop in bed the other night while everyone else was watching the latest Terminator movie (seen it, best one yet, but still unimpressed), but it was late and I started to doze. I loved Meryl Streep’s and Stanley Tucci’s performances from what I saw of the movie so far. I’m a little disappointed in the movie overall, though. I read the book a few months back and then followed it with My Life in France. Both books were excellent and I just think it was too hard to do Julie and Julia justice in a movie. There was too much to pack in there. Yes, the book is much more graphic than the movie, and though I have a bad habit of swearing, Julie Powell made even me blush a few times. Yes, her outlook and her attitude are a little grating at times and I did feel sorry for her husband. BUT I totally got her. There were things in that book that I could have written about me. Some of them are not so flattering, but I’m not always as perfect as I appear;o) It really did give me some insight into myself. Then, reading Julia Child’s My Life in France gave me insight into how I want to be. I highly recommend reading both books back to back. And I will finish that movie this week so I can send it back!
I loved it! The movie made me want to cook more and blog more 🙂
I loved this movie – I think it’s one of the very movies that was actually better than the book/books that they are based upon. Thank you for your review.
Your comment made me smile; I delighted in this movie at the theater, but my friend I was with kind of got bored. Liking it was unexpected for me because I hadn't been a fan of Julia Childs prior (Streep, yes); actually, I recall making fun of her when I was young or just not caring for her at all. After the movie, my mind was changed…:)
Yaaaaaeeeee, Susan! Thanks for letting me know you've been spying on me!!
I didn't read the book, but oh dear! If Julie was less appealing in the book? Me no wanna read it. Amy Adams is darling but I enduring her parts of the movie to get to Child's/Streep's yumminess :).
Well, Debbie, your review is more convincing than mine! I bought it for my sister for the same reason your husband bought it for you (except my sister doesn't blog) (yet).
Did you know I blogged for six months completely anonymously before sharing a link (even with my husband?). But I always wrote as if I had an audience…because that's how I saw others write, I guess. 🙂
I don't know your taste in movies, Laura, but if you can get through Julie's storyline, you might find it worth it for Julia's. Don't go in with high expectations and maybe you'll enjoy?? 🙂
Babe, sounds like a mini-movie review to me. You sure you didn't see it? 😉
Thing is, Tucci pretty much nails his roles regardless of who he plays; mentally trying to remember where all I've seen him…and in every case, he's perfectly cast. Chameleon, huh?
Ahhhhh! I woulda LOVED to have seen this with BLOGGING friends!!! (Though my friend who went with me started one after I think). How fun!
You ready to dress a duck? I 'bout am, lol.
You sound like me and my husband, Rhoda, although mine watches selective chick flicks (Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks pairings usually get him out. And anything with Rachel McAdams, lol). LOVED The Blindside, thrilled Sandra B. won for her portrayal. I'd bet money that movie has inspired many to do acts of kindness they might not do otherwise.
lol, me, too! 🙂
Hmmm, we seem to have similar movie tastes, too, then. Sometimes, imho, it's best not to see a movie soon after you've read the book. A little time seems to serve you well. I wonder if more time had gone by if you would've been more engaged.
I wondered how many people STARTED blogs after seeing the movie…!
You're welcome, Melissa. For whatever reason, I haven't even been tempted to read the book to compare. Maybe I fear disappointment? Or know there are other books I REALLY wanna finish……
Okay, so I totally can’t wait to see Julie & Julie, it’s just a little complicated because the husband steadfastly refuses to support me in this endeavor. 😉
However… have you SEEN Avatar? I’m just sayin…. if you haven’t see it, you can’t knock it, and if you’ve seen it, I’d like to know what you didn’t like?
i LOVED that movie as well – well, the julia part. the julie part was a little annoying, but the julia MORE than made up for it.
it makes me want to cook!!!
I haven’t seen this movie yet. I’m not sure why because it combines three of my favorite things: blogging, cooking, and Meryl Streep.
I’m glad to hear you like and I’m looking forward to checking it out.