Weekend Cooking: Movie Review: Julie & Julia
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.
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Is there anyone left who doesn't know the premise behind the book and movie Julie and Julia? I admit that I haven't yet read the book of the same title but we did watch the movie on Christmas Eve, and I read Julia Child's My Life in France in 2006, soon after it came out. That was before I started blogging, but here's what my reading notes say:
Love, love, loved it. Surprised over her relationship with her family. Surprised she got started so late. Wonderfully told. Sorry we didn't get more insider's information on other chefs besides James Beard and Simca, but nicely personal and the descriptions are terrific. Wow . . . that was a couple!I listened to the unabridged audio read by Kimberly Farr. While her French pronunciations were not spot-on, I was not bothered by that because I thought she did a fine job with the rest of the narration. Fluent French speakers or those with a better ear than I have may feel differently.
Meryl Streep was absolutely wonderful and believable as Julia Child. The best parts of the book were not portrayed in the movie, and if you are a foodie or just a Julia fan, be sure to give My Life in France a try.
As for Julie Powell, what blogger couldn't relate to the way that blogging can take over one's life? The constant checking for comments, the worry about letting your readers down, the excitement when you realize someone is reading what you write. My mother raved about the book, and I'm going to try to get to it very, very soon.
All in all, a fun movie that should appeal to all foodies and most bloggers. Here's the trailer, just in case you've missed it. (EDIT: The trailer may not work, they keep allowing and then disallowing embedding permission. Try this You Tube link.)
Source: Borrowed (see review policy)
25 comments:
oooh i watched this 0n new year's eve with my parents and we LOVED it. Meryl streep was wonderful, we totally forgot we weren't actually watching Julia Child. Loved the scene involving the onions and how her husband couldn't even get through the door. My dad was cracking up at the SNL skit shown (he's never seen it before). He's also convinced that I will also get a book deal due to my blogging.
I love this weekly meme! I don't read many foodie books but I think that's because I'm not familiar with many good ones. Cannot wait to see what this brings into my house.
I did read Julie & Julia and (to my surprise) loved it. I never really knew much about Julia Child until this past couple of months...but the memoir was written so well, it made me want to pick up her cookbooks and (wait for it...) COOK. Except maybe not aspic. LOL.
I bought the movie and watched it last week and was not disappointed. What I appreciated the most was the way the movie accurately mirrored the memoir.
Happy weekend!
I love, Love, LOVE Julie and Julia! I've read both books and seen the movie, and I think all three are fantastic! I do think they sanitized Julie Powell a bit too much for the movie, but Amy Adams portrayal is still fantastic! As a mostly food blogger I can totally relate!
I absolutely loved MY LIFE IN FRANCE and the movie. I never, ever see movies, but I did make it to the theater to see this one. I just had to read MY LIFE IN FRANCE because I was so enchanted by Julia Child.
Still haven't seen the movie, but plan to. My Life in France is on my wishlist, too. I'm making soup this week... here's the link
http://lakesidemusing.blogspot.com/2010/01/weekend-cooking-tuscan-bean-soup.html
I didn't read the book...and am not sure that I want to...but I liked the movie a lot. The parts with Julia I LOVED and would have been happy if that had been the entire focus of the movie. What can you say about Meryl Streep...wow, what an actress.
I am finishing out my Christmas desserts this week... http://caitesdayatthebeach.blogspot.com/2010/01/weekend-cookingon-ninth-day-of.html
W just watched this last night! What a fun movie. It was especially appealing this weekend because we consider the New Year an excuse to cook and eat for forty-eight straight hours. However, I will never see manicotti again without thinking of Julia's irreverent humor.
This movie was one of the best I saw in 2009; the book, not so high on the list. But My Life in France is on the reading list for this year for sure.
I don't think Meryl Streep can play a role in which she doesn't totally convince us that she's that character. (Except, perhaps, for Mamma Mia which I didn't care for.) After seeing Julie and Julia, we rented Kramer vs. Kramer with Dustin Hoffman and Falling in Love with Robert DeNiro. Fabulous movies!
Here's a silly thought: for some reason, the blogger in Julie and Julia really annoyed me! I could have done with much more Julia, and much less Julie, which is funny as I'm so passionate about blogging. I guess I just wanted to see all of Julia and her passion for life.
I loved the book. I read it about a year ago, but have not seen the movie yet. I really want to but just haven't yet, not really sure why. I love the idea for this weekly event!
This is one of the movies I watched while wrapping gift this Christmas - it was a lot of fun!
Loved the movie! I've got both Julie and Julia and My Life In France in the tbr pile and one of these weeks I'm going to make it a Julia Childs week. I'll rent the movie and read both of the books back-to-back.
I actually saw this movie in the theater twice and enjoyed it both times. I've read Julie and Julia but still need to read My Life in France.
Does eating a lot this weekend count as Weekend Cooking? Because if so, I could add my link a thousand pounds....er times.
Happy New Year! As I start to cook more I hope to be a more regular contributor to this wonderful feature.
To tell the truth I could have done with less of the Julie parts, but at the end, when she leaves butter for J.C...I got choked up. Great review of a great movie!
Happy new year!
I adored the movie. My husband was out of town when it came out, so my kids had to see it with me, and they even liked it. Of course, Meryl Streep just lights up the screen, as she generally does, even if she doesn't utter a word. The book? I liked it. Between the blogging and the cussing over creations that don't turn out perfect, I was there. I was just pissed I didn't think of the whole thing first! But not everyone liked the book. Bi-polar reviews.
Hey Beth!
Just wanted to drop you a line and wish you a Happy New Year! I watched it and enjoyed it as well. It sure is a different perspective from when she used to be on TV on her cooking show for sure, I enjoyed it (the movie)
So glad you saw the movie. You MUST read the book. I know so many people enjoyed the "Julia" parts more than the "Julie" ones, but having read the book, I loved both!
I plan to read this book in 2010 and check out the movie. I like the idea of hearing about the life of a blogger!
Hi Beth,
I've read the book, but haven't seen the movie. Most people I've talked to have said the movie was great. My Weekend Cooking is posted at my place, Sherrie's stuff. Have a great weekend!
Sherrie
Sherrie's Stuff
Now, I need to read and watch this! Thanks again for the reminder. :D
I got this movie for Christmas and was absolutely delighted with it. I've read both books and thought they were both translated pretty well to the screen. And I adored Meryl and Amy. They did such a great job!!
I tried to add my post to Mr. Linky, but couldn't tell if it worked, so here is my link just in case. I made Cranberry Orange Cookies yesterday and they were delicious!
I loved, loved, loved the movie. The book? Umm...not so much. Amy Adams and Meryl Streep were phenomenal and so delightful to watch. I received a copy of the dvd for my birthday in
December and think I may need to watch it today while I lay around in my jammies recuperating!
*smiles*
Great movie!
By the way did you know there is an alternative to mr.linky? www.inlinkz.com
I watched this last night - it was so good! Now I want to read My Life In France.
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