I just saw "Julie & Julia" last night and I can’t seem to get it out of my mind. I have commentary running through my brain and I need to get it out.
First, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci are perfect! They are adorable and have fantastic chemistry. I’m sure that Streep’s performance is going to bring Ms. Child to a whole new group of fans. I know that I certainly want to read Julia Child’s My Life in France. This part of the movie was superb and I would have loved to watch their story unfold for an hour and a half (or longer).
Mister and Mrs. Child were so much fun to watch. They had this incredible love that I don’t doubt for a second really existed. Streep and Tucci made you feel like you were in love right alongside them. They were each so appreciative and supportive of each other. And, good heavens, Jane Lynch as Julia’s sister, nearly steals the show! Her part was a real little gem.
Now, the Julie part of the story was very poorly done. There were numerous mistakes made with this part of the film. I must say that as much as I like Amy Adams, she was miscast in this role. I believe that Ms. Adams was cast in order to make "Julie" more likeable. Unfortunately, this backfired. I think that Director Ephron wanted to bring about a new "Meg Ryan". Amy Adams might be this generation’s Meg Ryan but, she has a way to go.
I don’t believe that Julie Powell is a likeable character. If the director had simply said, "this is Julie, like her or don’t", that might have worked. Instead we get a whiny milquetoast who can’t handle being the center of attention (or not being the center of attention, whatever the case may be).
I have not read Ms. Powell’s work and I think I probably will just so that I may comment on her work more knowledgeably. What I do know is that she is a woman who uses profanity in her work. Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that but, if your cinematic heroine uses "the F-word" instead of "Fuck", I think there’s a lack of authenticity there.
While I will probably read Julie Powell’s book for the sake of knowing who I’m knocking I want to read Julia Child’s memoir in order to get to know her. Ms. Child comes across as someone truly worth knowing. Someone who would have felt I was worth knowing as well.
Again, "Julie & Julia" was half of a great movie. I don’t think I need "the powers that be" to make a true Julia Child biopic. However, Ms. Ephron, if you’d like to finish what you started and give me more of your Julia Child story, that would really mean a lot. Hey maybe you’ve got footage that was filmed and edited out. A good idea might be to take that unused footage, add it to what you’ve already given us, and then release this great new cut on DVD. Can I patent that idea?
Never mind.
Ms. Ephron if you can go back and come around again with a complete Julia Child film, maybe lasting around 1 ½ hours, I’d be truly grateful. No cut of the back end necessary.
*While also being the love of the Truthbringer's life, Angela is also an honest to goodness writer. Which is a very rare treat considering the years this website has operated without one.
**LOVE YOU SWEETIE!!!
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