Nora Ephron's Julie & Julia - Film Review
Streep and Adams Demonstrate The Joy Of Cooking Is Its Own Reward.
Aug 7, 2009
Yes, it is recommended you don’t see Julie & Julia on an empty stomach. Still, whether you are a foodie or not, your appetite for the delectable storyline about Julia Child will be whetted, but not satiated.
The women portrayed in the film Julie & Julia, although from diverse generations, are connected by the “courage of their convictions”, love for cooking, and passionate marriages to very supportive husbands.
Mastering The Art Of Perfect Pairings
Director Nora Ephron, also the film’s scriptwriter, interlaced two narratives into one film. Ephron based her screenplay on the books My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme, and Julie & Julia, by Jane Powell.
Child’s My Life in France centers on her adventurous first years living in post-war France, as told to her grand nephew, Alex Prud’homme, during their afternoon visits together. While, Powell’s Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously recounts of her trails and tribulations as she cooked each of the 524 recipes from Child’s Mastering The Art Of French Cooking in 365 days for her blog.
Often-lampooned for her comical accent, kitchen mishaps and spontaneous expressions, “Bravo!” for Meryl Streep for immersing herself as the The French Chef , who introduced classic French cuisine to average, servant-less Americans.
From Paris To Queens
In 1948, the 36-year old Julia (Meryl Streep) moved from Washington, D.C. to Paris with her husband, Paul (Stan Tucci), a government official with the American Embassy. The couple shared a meal of sole meunière in a local restaurant, which would come to be a life-altering experience for Julia.
The six-foot-two-inch Californian met her future spouse, Paul, while working together during World War II for the OSS (today’s CIA). As did the book, the film reveals the Child’s rather surprisingly amorous marriage.
The Child’s narrative continues on about her days as the only female student at the famous Le Cordon Bleu, which led her to start her own cooking school with two Frenchwomen. Then, the lengthy process to co-write and publish her first cookbook is recounted. Too abruptly, her storyline concludes on her early entry on television.
But, of course! - There are all the fabulously, wonderful cooking sequences...from both of the chefs in “Julie & Julia”.
Living in post-911 Queens, Julie (Amy Adams), too loves to cook. She also works as a government employee, and blissfully-wed to a saint of a husband (Chris Messina). Her frustration as an unpublished author leads her to start her own blog with fixed target date, to motivate her to finally finish a writing project.
Julie perseveres to master every one of Julia Child’s mouth-watering recipes. There’s a particular hilariously, fun scene, when she boils her first lobster, with the aid of her hubby à la Woody Allen’s Anne Hall.
The Right Ingredients
The film stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, and Linda Emond; with a special and amusing appearance of Jane Lynch as Julia’s older sister.
Directed by Nora Ephron. Screenplay by Nora Ephron, based on the books “Julie & Julia” by Julie Powell and “My Life in France” by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme. Cinematography by Stephen Goldblatt, ASC BSC. Edited by Richard Marks, A.C.E. Production Design by Mark Ricker. Costume Design by Ann Roth.
Produced by Laurence Mark, Nora Ephron, Amy Robinson, and Eric Steel. Executive producers are Scott Rudin, Donald J. Lee, Jr., and Dana Stevens. Released by Columbia Pictures for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
(Running Time: 123 min)
(Rated: PG-13, for Brief Strong Language and Some Sensuality)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
