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Movie Review: Julie & Julia – She Said

She Said:

The other night, Spencer and I went to see a Movie – being total foodies, we of course saw Julie & Julia. I was surprised by the level of comedy, the romantic relationship between Julia and Paul Child, Meryl Streep’s incredible portrayal of Julia, and the, by comparison, flat experience of the modern-day half of the equation.

Maybe I’m biased (ah, who’m I kidding? Of course I’m biased!) and I do have to point out I have read neither Ms. Powell’s book, nor her blog… That said, here are my beefs:

I am to believe that Ms. Powell (obviously, already a decent home cook – at least that is how she is portrayed on film) manages not only to make all 524 recipes with minimal disasters (a failed aspic, a burned stew thanks to her falling asleep, and a dropped stuffed hen – which should have been recoverable in the way of the venerable Ms. Child) in that tiny little kitchen… but, each dish, on the first try, is a marvel of taste and perfection.

With the exception – of course – of the egg poaching….

OK, maybe I can believe that. Maybe. That in and of itself is a testament to both Ms. Child’s capability as an effective teacher and cookbook writer, and to Ms. Powell’s kitchen prowess. However, I would have liked to see some details: Where on earth, in that tiny space, did she manage to roll out the dough for the final and triumphant meal of duck? Why, might I ask, was she using a Bordeaux instead of a Burgundy in that Boeuf Bourguignon? Was that a film-maker error? A script error? Someone in the prop department screwing up? Or did Ms. Powell actually use Bordeaux? Or do my film-going and wine-using eyes deceive me, and that really is a Burgundy?

Please, please, please tell me that Ms. Powell’s husband, Eric Powell, is not really as much of a clod as he at first seems! Please? My first impressions of him included the words: classless and lout. Though we are treated to her self-revelation that she is, in fact, a whiny, self-centered bitch, we don’t ever get to see his revelation that he is a clod.

I was also left with an unfortunate bad taste in my mouth, thanks to the reporter calling regarding Ms. Child’s opinion on the blog. Was that ever cleared up? Did Ms. Powell ever pursue more information (not doing so seems hardly typical of the type of character she appears to be)? Or did that really just fade away into nothingness? Or was it something added for the purpose of the script? It had the effect of painting Ms. Child as the “bad guy” when the rest of the film seemed to portray her as a pleasant, in fact, endearing, character who could charm smiles out of even the most grouchy and unfriendly of Frenchmen.

All of those annoying little things aside (and I do admit – I am nit-picking), I completely enjoyed the movie, and was entranced with Ms. Streep’s performance. Brava!

And, I must confess, I am also inspired.

Inspired to get my behind back into the kitchen (as if I ever left?) to not only cook, but develop new recipes and finish a cookbook project started about two years ago. Some people have the Great American Novel lurking in their bottom desk drawer (or somewhere in the dark recesses of their hard drives). I have the Great American Cookbook.

Inspired to write again, to get behind the keyboard and get my fingers and brain back into the habit of writing for pleasure, and for profit.

He Said:

Serena and I, sharing an enjoyment of cooking and seeking a good date movie, saw the film “Julie and Julia.” I’m sure the lady of the house will have lots to say about the experience, so I’ll keep it simple with the male point of view. I really enjoyed this movie, but like any good summertime blockbuster, it needed an explosion over the pizzeria and a hot leading lady with big boobs.

My feeling is that this is two movies in one; The first is great, the second … not so much; The first story is about Julia Child, a compelling character who changed the way Americans think about food. The writing is solid, the production values are impeccable, and the performance by Meryl Streep is Oscar-worthy astounding. The other story is about Julie Powell, a plain and dull twenty-something girl on the road to Loserville on her thirtieth birthday. The writing is solid, and the acting convincing, but…

I wanted to be entertained. Every time Julia Child was on the screen I was. If this movie had been all Meryl Streep’s interpretation of Julia Child, I would be raving over how wonderful the film was. It’s just that every time Julie Powell was on the screen I wanted a dull spoon to gouge my eyes out. It’s everything a guy hates about a chick flick. On top of that, it’s the same old tale of personal growth that’s supposed to make me feel good, but I just couldn’t like the characters enough to stick with them. I certainly hope Julie’s tale is not true, I just feel sorry for her. I’m even more put off by the notion that her real life has turned into a dream of success based on this single experience. Oh sheesh, like she’s all that…

I look forward to watching this film again on DVD or on-demand. Yeah, I’ll pay to watch it again.

(Serena again – ahem… I love it when Mr. Metro goes on about needing explosions and big boobs.)



Posted in Movies Tagged: he said, julie & julia, movie review, she said


This post first appeared on Spencer & Serena: Proving Pleasures | Proving All, please read the originial post: here

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Movie Review: Julie & Julia – She Said

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